Nigerian observer 18 12 2014 by Nigerian Observer

The Nigerian

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vo l. 39 • NO. 145 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 20 14 • N100.00

Police ’ll sanction officers for unprofessional conduct - IGP

DEVELOPMENT Page 13 SMES Foundation for Rapid Economic Development (1)

ABUJA - The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, has vowed to sanction officers and men of the force for unprofessional conduct, most especially now

that the 2015 elections are drawing nearer. Abba gave the warning yesterday in Abuja while presenting the “Inspector-General of Police Award’’ to four

junior officers for their e x c e p t i o n a l performance, with one receiving it posthumously. The award was organised by the I-G in collaboration with

Puzzle Group Ltd., a holding company. “We will make sure that officers act professionally in their conducts, and let me also assure that Continues on page 2

Why I picked- Buhari Osibajo

MAN AND NAUTRE Page 27

Still Small Voice

ABUJA - The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate for the 2015 general elections, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday gave reasons why he picked Prof. Yemi Osibajo as his running mate, with a pledge to rescue Nigeria. make is the choice of the Buhari at a news conference in Abuja disclosed that the process of selecting the vice presidential candidate was rigorous, meticulous, and objective and involved broad consultations with the party leaders and others outside the party. “The challenging process of rescuing our country and changing Nigeria for good has commenced. “One of the first decisions that I have to

vice-presidential candidate and my running mate. The NIGERIAN OBSERVER on Tuesday exclusively reported that the APC presidential candidate has picked Prof. Yemi Osibajo as his running mate for the 2015 election. “To assist me in this great task of securing Nigeria’s future, I have chosen a man of unimpeachable integrity. “He is an excellent professional, a man of

projects. Former Head of State and APC presidential standard-bearer, MajorGeneral Muhammadu Buhari and Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola had also commissioned a number

of projects, including newly reconstructed schools and roads in commemoration of the sixth anniversary of the Oshiomhole-led administration on November 12, 2014.

faith, a devoted family man and a role model to our fellow countrymen and women,’’ he said. “He is a professor of law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. “An alumnus of the University of Lagos and the London School of Economics, a prodigious author who

has to his credit several books on civil procedure in Nigerian superior courts. “The vice-presidential candidate is a friend of the less-privileged, compassionate and zealous in service, a

man of uncommon humility, a loyal, dependable and selfless patriot,’’ he added. Buhari pledged to uphold every promise he made after emerging as APC flag-bearer and thanked everyone who

had identified with him after he clinched the ticket. “The huge outpouring of support and acceptance has been a great encouragement to me and hardened my resolve to lead the process of rebuilding a new Nigeria and Continues on page 2

Tinubu to commission road, hospital projects

BENIN CITY – The celebration of the sixth anniversary of the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led administration in Edo State continues tomorrow, Friday December 19, 2014 with the commissioning of two key projects. They include the new six-lane New Lagos Road and the Ewohimi Hospital, Esan SouthEast Local Government Area. Former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is billed to commission the

FG promises shift from oil revenue - Okonjo-Iweala

By JOSES SEDE/ EDITH IMOISILI ABUJA - Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,

TIT BIT

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” - Abraham Lincoln

yesterday, indicated Federal Government resolve to diversify the economy in 2015, by shifting from the oil sector to aggressive revenue generation through taxes. This is even as Senate President David Mark assured that the Senate would dedicate two days to consideration and approval of the Budget, to enable President Jonathan Goodluck begin implementation in Ernest. In a press chat with Continues on page 2

PRESENTATION OF RUNNING MATE: APC Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (2nd right), presenting his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osibajo to the Public in Abuja yesterday. With them are, APC Chairman, Chief John Oyegun (left) and the National Secretary, Alhaji Mai-Mala Buni

Prof Emovon blasts FG over lip service to science, tech By ANDY EGBON BENIN CITY- A former Minister for Science and Technology, Professor Emmanuel Emovon has berated the federal government for

according lip service to science and technology. Professor Emovon in an exclusive interview with The NIGERIAN OBSERVER in Benin City against the backdrop of the sliding

crude oil price in the international market said, unless the nation gives adequate attention to science and technology, “we are not serious” about finding solution. According to him,

“agriculture is being stepped up, but research institutes do not appear to be funded to show Nigeria the road map to prosperity. “Asian tigers invested Continues on page 2

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

News

Police ’ll sanction officers for unprofessional parties have presented their He said that the award Continued from page 1 candidates to us and I am conduct which attracted monetary where misconduct cannot sure before the end of the

be corrected ordinarily, sanctions will be applied. “In fact, this is absolutely necessary, particularly as we are approaching the elections in 2015’’, Abba said. The I-G attributed the peaceful conduct of parties’ primaries so far partly to the provision of adequate security by the force. “Primaries have been conducted, the political

week, all the candidates will be presented by the parties. “That is their responsibilities and we were there to give the security necessary for them to conduct the primaries in a peaceful manner. “I am glad to note that almost all the political parties had done so successfully and some of them have even commended the activities of

police officers publicly,’’ he said. On the award, Abba said recipients were selected based on “hard work, honesty and humility’’, adding that each of the officers exhibited either one or all of the criteria. Abba said that the performance and achievement by one of the awardees was discussed at the highest level of security meeting in the country.

Why I picked Osibajo

Continued from page 1

“I also thank the leaders and elders of our great party, APC, for the trust reposed in me. The task of rebuilding this nation is one to which I am fully committed. “There can be no other president, leader and commander that can lead that common sense revolution

which Nigeria urgently needs than Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. I will proudly serve this country with him.’’ Osibajo lauded the retired general’s ‘’uprightness and fierce commitment’’ to good governance. According to him, it will be a privilege to work with him for a better Nigeria.

through various types of taxes and policies. The surcharge on luxury goods is there, plus additional tax efforts to close leakages in revenue”, she told the journalists. The minister further explained that the benchmark price for oil was fixed at $65 while the production figure was pegged at 2.27m barrel per day. “We have estimated a GDP growth based on the circumstances of the country, which will be about 5.5 percent this is down from the 6.35 percent we had earlier from the National Bureau of Statistics which is still one of the best growth rate in the World.” She added. Meanwhile, the Senate President, David Mark, has pledged that the upper chamber would consider the appropriation bill within two days on resumption but urged the various committees to work on the document even while on vacation. Also, Senators Phillip Aduda and Joshua Dariye, have assured members of the

public that the various committees would expedite action on the passage of the 2015 budget despite the political activities in their various constituencies. Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma - Egba, while moving the motion for the adjournment till January 13, 2015 explained that the idea was to enable senators participate effectively in the political activities ahead of next year general election. The minister of finance and the coordinating minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iwela yesterday explained that this year budget is based on a few key indicators on $65 per barrel benchmark and we are going to stick to it for now despite the declining prices because we feel the average price next year around $6570. The minister while speaking with pressmen after she laid the 2015 Appropriation Bill before members of the House of Representatives on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan explained that

lots in science and technology; it is where their prospect lies, so, we do hope that our governors and masters will try as much as

possible to harness what we have. “Add value to exported agric products by adopting science and technology”, he added. According to him in

diversifying the economy, you cannot rely on monoeconomy and expect the country to move because oil is a wasted asset that is irreplaceable.

BENIN CITY- The Managing Director PRESCO Plc, Mr Ude Pilani has declared that the company is one of the leading oil palm producing giants in the world because it engages more in Research and Development. Speaking at the end of year party and award night held for workers of the company, he said the company is leading

other competitors in the industry in Nigeria. He however commended the workers for putting in their best to support the company’s growth, saying that it had always strived to continuously add value to its products against competitors and importers. Pilani announced that all its energy comes from waste while it has a new boiler and Plant recently

commissioned. He urged the staff not to lose momentum as its products commands premium market place with top class clientele, saying “we must continue to do well and the rest will take care of its itself”. Highlights of the occasion were presentations of various categories of awards to deserving staff of the company, with Mr. Oyekunle Fayomi

securing our future,’’ he said. Accepting the challenge to run alongside Buhari, Osibajo said, “I am deeply honoured and grateful to have been nominated as the vicepresidential candidate of our party.

benefit would not only motivate the officers to do more but had given them national recognition. Mr Bayo Adeyemo, the Chief Executive of Puzzle Group, said the police needed to be appreciated and recognised because of the services they rendered to the public. Adeyemo said that in an ideal society, they were the “people’s best of friends’’. “Of all the law enforcement agencies, the police are not only the most visible but unarguably the closest to the common man on the street. “The essence of this award is to tell them that their efforts are not in vain,’’ he said. The recipients are Sergents Bonze Pelesia, who received the best award, got N1 million, Ibrahim Biki, N500,000, Usman Mohammed, N250,000 and late Maimunat Yusuf, who also received N500,000.

FG promises shift from oil revenue

Continued from page 1 journalists shortly after she had laid the 2015 Budget estimates at the table of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the finance minister explained that the 2015 Budget seeks to protect the average Nigerian because it was packaged to focus on the diversification of the economy. She expressed optimism that the strategy would work because food prices have not risen in spite of the depreciation of the naira. “If you check all around the markets, you will observe that the average Nigerian is still enjoying stable food prices. In some places like Enugu, the prices of garri has even fallen. Inflation rate as estimated by the National Bureau of Statistics has fallen from 8.1 to 7.9 percent. This budget really focuses on moving us to diversify the economy and raise non oil revenue. We have made up for the fall of $13 per barrel, by raising non oil revenue

Prof Emovon blasts FG

Continued from page 1

federal government has revised the parametres of the country down from 6.35 to 5.5 percent next year. “We have a budget expenditure of about N 4.3 trillion. Revenues of N3.6 trillion. We have tried to make up for the drop from the $78 per barrel to $65 by raising non-oil revenues”, she added. The minister explained that this budget points to the fact that this country is a non oil country and I think we want Nigerians to begin to think of the country in that way. “We have worked very hard with the guidance of Mr President to move on non-oil revenue. We have closed many loopholes and leakages. We have tried to broaden the tax base. We have sped the audit; we looked for everywhere. We have closed some exemptions, all of this will bring additional revenues into the coffers”, she said. We have also worked on the expenditures side. In the short term, we are going to look at the administrative expenditures, equipments we have not been able to buy next year, travel and the training will only be inside the country. Just on exceptional basis, if somebody is paying for you, will you be able to go out or if it is typical government directive to go out.

Presco is leading oil palm coy - MD

emerging best all rounder among the staff. Three senior and 12 junior staff received long service awards for 15 and 20 years service and 18 staff received awards for good performance while nine staff retired. Prizes taken away included flat screen colour Television sets, and cash in the various categories of performance.

Edo Assembly concludes work on constitutional amendment By KEN ABU BENIN CITY- Edo State House of Assembly has concluded the clause-byclause constitution of the bill for a law to further alter the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. The constitution which followed the suspension of House Rules 42-46 at the committee of the whole provided the opportunity for the Lawmakers to either vote for in support of or against any section of the constitution harmony that

needed to be amended in harmony with the yearnings of their constitutions. While virtually every sections of the 4th alteration Bill received the full support of the Lawmakers, 8 sections including 7, 124, 162, 197, 201, 202, 205 and 305 were voted against by the lawmakers including third schedule part 2 and the fifth schedule. The Speaker, Hon. Uyi Igbe in his submission directed the clerk of the House to forward clean copies of the 4 th alteration Bill to the National Assembly for immediate action.

Microfinance, SME Funds

EDHA approves N2bn request By KEN ABU BENIN CITY - Edo State House of Assembly has passed a resolution approving the request of the state government to access N2 billion from the N22 billion Central Bank of Nigeria Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development founds. The adoption of the resolution was sequel, to the presentation of the report of the House Committee on Rules, Business and Government House on the request of the state government by the majority leader, Hon. Philip Shaibu for consideration. According to him, during the presentation of the report, Edo State is the least state yet to access the funds as others have already accessed the funds to boost the existing small and medium enterprises in their state The majority Leader added that the benefits that the N2 billion would bring to the state when fully accessed include the social economic development and transformation of the state. The fund will help boost the development the of existing small and medium business while establishing others to complement the effort of the state government in the areas of job creation as any viable economy can only be driven by the active participation of the private sector, the Majority leader added. The state Parliament at the Committee of the Whole approved through a resolution of the House, the request of the state Government to access the N2 billion found. Also at plenary, the Edo State House of Assembly

announced the lifting of the suspension imposed on two of the suspended Lawmakers of the state Assembly. The lawmakers are Hon. Kingsley Ehigiamusoe and Hon. Emma Okoduwa. Making the announcement yesterday under Matters of Urgent Public Importance, Hon. Philip Shaibu said, the leadership of the House upon the constitution of an ad-hoc committee to investigate the role of the suspended lawmakers in the crisis that rocked the state Assembly in June 2014, it was discovered that the crisis was influenced by external political force plunging the state into anarchy. The Majority Leader further said that in the spirit of oneness, Love and Celebration of the Yuletide, the House decided to pardon the suspended Lawmakers for their role in the crisis, adding that all the parties involved in the crisis decided to heed to the call for peace as earlier canvassed by wellmeaning people of the state, including the Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa. The Minority Leader, Hon. Emma Okoduwa and the Minority Whip, Hon Kingsley Ehigiamusoe thanked everyone who ensured peace returned to the state parliament, adding that soon the Legislators APC and PDP lawmakers would return to Anthony Enahoro Complex. The Minority Leader at a press conference at the Old Assembly Complex with Hon. Philip Shaibu, Hon. Kingsley Ehigiamusoe and Hon Kabiri Adjoto said that it was very imperative for members of the state Assembly to reconcile their differences in the interest of peace and development of the state as nobody or political party was bigger than the state.

By MIKE OSAROGIAGBON

(ZCID), Headquarters, Benin City. DSP Edogiawerie who is a general duty police officer has held many offices in different states in Nigeria including Bayelsa where he was a divisional pay master. He holds Masters in History and Diplomacy (MHD), UNIBEN. The new spokesman to Edo Police Command however promised to bring to bear his experience towards protecting and improving on the legacy of his predecessors. DSP Edogiawerie appealed to members of the public to cooperate with operatives of the command led by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo at making Edo State safe for all law-abiding residents.

Edo Police Command gets new PRO

BENIN CITY—A new Public Relations Officer has assumed office at the Edo Police Command in Benin City. He is Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP Joseph Edogiawerie who assumed office on Tuesday. Prior to his deployment in the Public Relations Office of the Command, he was the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO), Ugbor Police Division, GRA, Benin City. He is also a former Officer-inCharge (O/C), Human Right Violation, Zone ‘5’ Crime Investigation Department

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

News Local Farmers Laud World Bank, French Agency Over YOLA - Local farmers in Roads Similarly, Mr Denis

Mayo-Lamja village in Mayo-Belwa Local Government Area of Adamawa State have commended the World Bank and the French Development Agency for the rehabilitation of feeder road in the area. Mrs. Dorothy Coleman, the leader of Mayo-Lamja Women Farmers Cooperative Association, gave the commendation in an interview with newsmen at Mayo-Lamja The World Bank and the French Development Agency have offered $243 million in grants for the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of rural feeder roads in four Nigerian states. The four participating states under the agreement are Adamawa, Enugu, Niger and Osun, which are expected to pay three per cent of the total project costs as counterpart funding. According to Coleman, the rehabilitation of the

roads which are twenty kilometres off the MayoBelwa - Jalingo highway, has eased the farmers plight in transporting their farm produce to the urban markets. “Before the rehabilitation of the roads, the mode of transporting our farm produce was a big challenge. “But now, we find it much easier to transport our goods and even to interact with farmers in other parts of the state because of the reduction in costs of transportation by fifty per cent.” Coleman said. She called on the Federal and State Governments to extend the rehabilitation project to link with Tola, up to Jada town, the headquarters of Jada Local Government Area. Coleman explained that the major farm crops in the area include maize, yam, rice and groundnuts. She added cattle, vegetables and mangoes.

Chinda, the Chairman, Adamawa Project Monitoring Committee of RAMP-2, the supervisor of the project, confirmed that a total of N91 million was spent on the rehabilitation of the roads. “Under the scheme, 500 kilometres of rural roads would be constructed in the state.” Chinda said. He added that under the project, 10 people were recruited for the rehabilitation of the roads and were on a monthly salary of N20, 000.

L-R: Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed, at the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja yesterday.

NAMA To Train 10 Air Traffic controllers

IKEJA- The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), has said that 10 of its Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) would commence training on Performance Based Navigation System, before the end of the year. The agency’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr Supo Atobatele, told newsmen in Lagos that the other 30 ATCs would go in three batches in 2015. Atobatele said that this was part of efforts by the agency to enhance capacity of its critical manpower. He said that the system was part of the agency’s effort to key into the modern navigational technology and train its engineers on modern technology. The General Manager said that the agency had trained more than 60 engineers in 2013 to improve their navigational skills according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standard. According to him, the Federal Government has given them the approval to send the ATCs for training to improve their knowlledge. “Forty of the Air Traffic Controllers are going for training on performance based navigation at the Aviation College, Cairo.

“The first batch will commence their training before the end of 2014. “We have Performance Navigation System on ground and we need to train our engineers so that they can handle effectively the way of navigating

PCRC Elects Exco

BENIN CITY- The Chairman, Edo State Fire Service Board, Elder J.A. Adodo J.P has been reelected Chairman, Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) St. Saviour Division. The election which took BENIN - It will be pomp Saturday December 20, 2014 place at the Divisional Police and ceremonies at the which also coincides with his Headquarters Benin was premises of Time Hospital, birthday of Dr. Amusan. witnessed by the DPO and Benin City as friends and other SPOs in the Division colleagues of the Chief Others elected officers were Medical Director (CMD) Dr Chief S.I. Abunsomwan JP Taiwo Ibukun Amusan gather (Vice chairman), Mr. Charles to honour him over his Oviawe (Treasurer), Elder elevation to the status of Humphery Osadiaye-lmasuen fellow of the West African (Financial Secretary), Deacon College of Surgeons Robert Erharuyi (PRO), Mr. By the singular achievement, Jeff Umurhurhu (Welfare/Org) Dr. Amusan is qualified to be and Godfrey Erhabor (Asst. recoginised by any World Secretary). Medical body. He is also Speaking after the election, certified to practice in any part the DPO DSP Friday of the World as a Surgeon. Aliemeke, admonished the The celebration is stated for Dr Taiwo Ibukun Amusan newly elected executive to increase their tempo of development so as to take the Division to a higher level. The DPO charged them to form vigilante groups in some few areas where they are not in existence. He said that he had implicit confidence that the new exco under the leadership of Elder Adodo would in no distance time complete the on-going project at the Divisional Headquarters, while promising to cooperate with the new exco at all times. In his post election speech, the Chairman, Elder Adodo thanked God for his reSpeaker, Bayelsea State House of Assembly, Mr. Kombowei Benson, addressing members election. of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), during a NULGE protest to He also thanked the the Assembly in Yenagoa recently. members of PCRC for the

Amusan To Celebrate His Elevation

to our airports,’’ he said. Atobatele said the PBN would enable aircraft that are compliant to land faster. “The PBN facilitates seamless flight operation without the pilot having to contact the Air Traffic

Controllers (ATC) all the times as they can see all the information on the cockpit while flying,’’ he said. NAMA migrated from Terrestrial Air Navigation System to a Satellite-Based Navigation System, also known as Performance Based Navigation System in June 2012.

confidence reposed in him and promised not to betray it, promising to complete the ongoing project before the end of his tenure. He further said that when meetings properly resume in January, 2015, a date would be fixed for the investiture ceremony of PCRC patrons in the Division.

Elder J.A. Adodo J.P

Akhere Weds Osayi Saturday 8am

BENIN CITY - The solemnization of Holy Matrimony between Akhere Shalom Ojie Eguare Opoji, Esan Central Local Government Area, and Barrister Osayimwense Enorense Ogbomo of Evboneka Town in Ovia North East Local Government Area both of Edo State takes place on Saturday December 20, 2014 beginning at

Akhere and Osayi

Venue is the St Francis Catholic Church, College Road, Off Ekehuan Road Benin City, while reception is JS Bar Garden No12 College Road, Opposite the Anglican Church, Benin City. Meanwhile, the traditional marriage ceremonry holds today at the Bride’s family compound, Prince Tony Ojie Street, Off Aifua Road, Beside Chique Hotel Ekpoma at Noon.

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Across The Nation

Nasarawa Fire Service Receives 127 Distress Calls - Chief

NIMASA Vows To Sack Sea Pirates, Kidnappers LAGOS - The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has restated its determination rid the nation’s maritime space of pirates and kidnappers. The Director General of the agency, Mr Ziakede Akpobolokemi, stated this during his end-of- the-year news conference in Lagos. According to him, the agency has taken pro-active steps ahead of pirates within the areas and with a promise to continue to frustrate kidnappers in their evil acts. “If I tell you in the last one month plus, the number of attacks we have foiled in Lagos area and the number of pirates in our custody, it will be alarming; none of them succeeded. “Some of them, we have handed them over to the Navy to help us and working with them and civil defense for prosecution; and some of the vessels are in our custody. “So just take this Lagos area, it will take you the grace of God to go and do an attack because before even the attack, we are going out, we have got information. “Besides the satellite, we have other systems of operations that we can use in getting people. “If you kidnap, we will go after you. That is why we are saying people should not pay for hostages to be released. “We have to go after them, and crush them. Everybody must die one day, that is the truth about it. We must fearlessly approach any person that is causing us problems. And we are going to sustain that.“ Akpobolokemi said NIMASA would continue to sustain its efforts with additional security systems.

Chairman, Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies (AES), Excellence Club, Mrs. Nike Akande (left) presenting an award of Minister of the Year to Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen at the 5th AES Excellence Club Annual CEOs Dinner/ Award Night in Lagos recently.l

Ophthalmologist Urges Against Self Medication LAGOS- A Consultant Ophthalmologist, Dr Modupe Idris, urged people to avoid self medication in treating eye problem in order to prevent blindness. Idris, who is a lecturer at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Lagos. “I like to use this opportunity to advise people to please take care of their eyes because we

have seen instances of people using just anything, putting just anything into their eyes. “We have seen people with just ordinary conjunctivitis and they put petrol, urine, breast milk, sugar water, onions, rob. ‘’It is this thing that will cause the damage, not the primary infection that the patient had. “So, if you have any problem with your eyes, please try and see the expert, it does not take time,

have your eyes checked, then, they will prescribe the appropriate drugs. “And, then don’t share your drugs with your neighbours. “Even if you do not have any problem with your eyes, try and check your eyes. Let us put it into our culture to have our eyes checked once a year so as to prevent irreparable damage.” The consultant also urged parents to ensure that their children did not play with sharp objects during the holiday to prevent damaging their eyes.

Cross section of dignitaries at the Convocation of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto recently.

FG Begins Distribution Of Fertilisers To Women Farmers

JALINGO- The Federal Government in collaboration with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Office in Jalingo has began the distribution of 8,000 bags of fertilisers to women farmers in Taraba State. The Acting Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture in the state, Mr Amos Mafe, said the initiative was designed by President Goodluck Jonathan to empower women and reduce

She said that many children presented lots of eye problems at the hospital due to sharp objects. “We will have to also advise our children to be careful with the way they play at school, especially with the holiday coming. “Not to play with brooms or sharp objects or pencil, because we have seen instances of children coming with cornea problems. “They have to be careful generally”.

poverty through food production. He said under the MDGs Women Empowerment Scheme, each of the beneficiaries was entitled to a bag of fertiliser free of charge. According to him, the exercise will go a long way to spur food security in the state. Mafe said the beneficiaries were expected to redeem their fertilisers from the four

redemption centres located in Jalingo, Iware, Mutum-Biyu and Bali Local Government Areas of the state. He said the distribution, which was being handled by International Fertilisers Development Centre (IFDC) in collaboration with the MDGs Office in the state, was expected to last for five days.

Mafe urged the beneficiaries to ensure that they make good use of the fertilisers by applying them on their farms instead of selling them. One of the beneficiaries, Sarah Dauda, commended the Federal Government for the gesture, adding that it would encourage women to go into small scale farming to support the family.

Officer

LAFIA - Nasarawa State Fire Service received 127 distress calls in 2014, Mr Dogara Dalhatu, the state Chief Fire Officer, has said. “Out of the calls, 117 were for fire outbreak while the remaining 10 were for rescue operation,’’ Dalhatu said in Lafia in an interview with newsmen. He said that during the year under review, properties worth N44 million were destroyed by fire across the state while properties worth over N692 million were served during rescue operation. He attributed the cause of the fire to human factors such as carelessness, storage of fuel at home, misuse of electrical appliances, bush burning, accident among others. Dalhatu advised the people not to keep petrol at home even as he urged them to be careful while handling electrical appliances. He called on the people to report cases of fire outbreak to the offices of the fire service in the areas. He said that the service was faced with the challenges of shortage of manpower and inadequate equipment.

Man Jailed For Causing Grievous Hurt ABUJA-A Kado Grade 1 Area Court in the FCT, has sentenced one Amoabi Okoro ,26, to two months imprisonment for causing grievous hurt to one Aja Stephen. The judge, Mr Abubakar Sadiq, jailed Okoro, as he admitted committing the offence. The judge, however, gave him, N20,000 option of fine. The prosecutor, Inspector. Simon Ibrahim, had told the

court that one Aja Stephen,

from Karimo village, reported the matter at Utako Police Station on November26 Ibrahim said that Okoro stabbed the complainant twice with knife, when Stephen told the accused not to insult his (Stephen’s) elder sister. He said that the complainant was rushed to Wuse General Hospital, where he paid a hospital bill of N65,000.

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

News Corps Members Donate To Aged Persons BOKI (Cross River) - In Cross River Other members of the group

Some members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), serving in Cross River, have donated drugs and eye glasses to 205 aged persons in Ntamante Community in Boki Local Government Area. The corps members, who belong to the Community Development Service (CDS) group on Health and Gender, made the donation yesterday during a free eye test programme. The President of the group, Dr. Archibong Etim, said that members of the group undertook a need assessment exercise of the community and discovered that most aged persons were having difficulties with their sight.

“As a group, we decided to donate these eye glasses and drugs to alleviate the pains of the aged in this community. “Residents of this community have been so kind to us, the donation is a way of appreciating their warm reception and kindness towards us,’’ he said. Another member of the group, Dr. Zainab Mohammed, said the eye was an important sense organ that needed regular check up and treatment where necessary. She said the group decided to make the donation because most aged men and women in the community could not afford money to buy medicated eye glasses and drugs.

who spoke to newsmen said the donation was meant to ameliorate the plight of the aged persons in the community. Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Paulina Etta, 72, thanked the group for their humanitarian service. The leader of the community, Mr. Sylvanus Obi, who lauded the efforts of the corps members, said the donation would go a long way to improve the sight of the aged in the community. Mr. Albert Effiong, an NYSC official who monitored the exercise, commended the group for their good work.

Employees (NULGE), Akwa Ibom chapter, has commenced indefinite strike against non-payment of four months salaries to its members. Speaking with newsmen in Uyo, the state Chairman of NULGE, Mr. Felix Udo, said the strike started on Monday. Udo said apart from unpaid salaries and allowances of workers in Abak, Ikono, Ikot Ekpene

and Uyo local government areas, retired members had not been paid gratuities since 2009. The NULGE boss said another reason for the strike was the irregular computation of salaries and allowances of local government workers by one of the new generation banks in the state. “Local Government Chairmen in the state have been insensitive to the plight

ABUJA - The National Orientation Agency (NOA) yesterday called on the Nigerian media to report political events in the country objectively and accurately. Mr. Davidson Aminu, Acting Deputy Director, Political and Civil Education in the agency, stated this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja. He said that the sensitisation programme of the agency ahead of the 2015 polls was designed to enlighten journalists on the need to avoid reporting maliciously during the forthcoming election. “The Nigerian media outlets must embrace the sensitisation programme of NOA to prevent unethical reportage during the 2015 elections. “It will be recalled that, in the past, we have had cases of a media personnel going ahead to announce the result

of an election even before INEC did. “Each time a media house does this, it sparks off crises in the country. “We are therefore holding the sensitisation programmes to draw the attention of media personnel to the need for patriotic and considerate reportage of political events in the interest of peace.’’ He, however, promised that the agency was working hard to revive its regular jingles on television and radio to facilitate the awareness of Nigerians on “Do the right thing’’ during the election. “We have also produced jingles, but the only thing I will say is that we have not been able to cover all the areas in the country. ‘ Before long, we should be able to take over all the air waves and begin to tell Nigerians what is expected of them as far as the election is concerned,’’ he added.

of workers. We have been negotiating with them on these issues, but all our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. “In Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, the workers are owed four months salaries, Abak workers are being owed two months salaries. “Ikono workers are owed two months salaries, Ini and Uruefong Uruko workers are owed one month salaries each”, Udo added. He held that promotion of workers in the local governments had not been implemented since 2008 in the state. Udo also said that workers in the state’s local governments had not been paid their leave grants for 2012, 2013 and 2014. He appealed to Governor Godswill Akpabio to intervene in the matter so that the workers could have a pleasant Yuletide with their families. Udo, however, stressed that the affected workers will not go back to work until all their demands were met. In a reaction, Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Mr. Nse Ntuen, attributed the situation to dwindling resources of the local government councils. Ntuen, who is Chairman of Essien Udim local government area, said the association was working hard in conjunction with the State Government to solve the problem as soon as possible.

NULGE In A/Ibom On Strike Over UYO - The Nigeria Union Unpaid Salaries of Local Government

NOA Urges Media To Report Political Events Objectively

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

News Academy Tasks Scientiests On Publication LAGOS - The President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Prof. Olawole Tomori, has urged scientists to publish the outcome of their medical research findings so as to stimulate national development. Tomori told newsmen in Lagos that the bane of Nigeria’s development was the failure of scientists to channel their findings to the relevant authorities for appropriate action. “Many of us scientists we carry out research and we lock ourselves in the test tube of our research and never tell anybody what we are doing. “Disseminating this and letting people know is what will show your relevance to your people. Because if you are doing all these things and no one knows about it, then nobody knows your relevance. “I have always said that one of the errors we as scientists have made in this country is because, we may be a bit too proud, thinking that we are educated, we are researchers, we do not want to talk to those politicians. That is the mistake we have made all these years. “Go to the University of Ibadan, you will find 5, 000 publications on malaria and our people are still getting malaria. “So, what happened to all the 5, 000? Unless people know and make use of it for the good of the people, then something is wrong. “It is important for us to get together with them, the politicians, let them know, let them appreciate what is happening. We are helping our country. “They own the money, and unless they know what we are telling them, they would never know where to put the money. “So, we need to work with them, whatever it takes, let them know that there are other areas where they can spend money.“ Meanwhile, a pharmacologist , Prof. Maurice Iwu, said that synergy among medical researchers in public and private sectors would enhance the quality of output in medical research in Nigeria.

Immigration Repatriates 11 Foreigners

Iwu told newsmen in Lagos that lack of collaboration between the public and private sectors contributed to the low impact of research being carried out. “We lack the culture of research, research has a culture. Scientific research and medical research is like tennis, you play it and somebody has to return that ball. “ And that is something we are lacking in this country and that tends to lower the impact of research. “The other issue is the noninvolvement, nonengagement of the private sector. “We have to know what is going on in the public research centres and the only way we can do that is by a direct and deliberate effort to engage. “If you don’t do that deliberate effort to engage, it limits the whole ability to be able to do functional educational research. “But it is very important that scientists, as they are doing their research, have to bear these components in mind that there is lack of research culture in the country. “ And that they will also have to deliberately engage the private sector. “We have not done that in any sufficient manner.’’

FIFA instructor, Mrs. Jamila Buhari (left), conducting fitness test on Referees at the thrid quarter fitness test for Nigerian Referees in Abuja recently.

LAGOS - A 32-year-old civil servant, Adams Rufai, has appeared before an Oshodi Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing property worth N180, 000. Rufai, who resides at No. 9, Ariyibi Close, Mafoluku, Oshodi, is standing trail on a three-count charge of unlawful entry, conspiracy and stealing. The Prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde Olatunde, told the

court that the accused committed the offences on December7 at No. 2, Baserin St., Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos. He said that the accused and two others at large conspired and unlawfully entered one Mr Soji Onideko’s house and stole his properties worth N180, 000. The accused carted away with a refrigerator valued at N53, 000, a Sony home theatre

valued at N60, 000 and Samsung flat screen television valued at N52,000. Other item carted away by the accused includes a Samsung touch screen phone valued at N15, 000, all totaling N180, 000. Olatunde said that the accused came with two soldiers and threatened to kill the complainant if he refused to cooperate with them.

LOKOJA - The wife of Kogi Governor, Hajia Halima Wada, called on wealthy persons in the society to take care of those in need. Wada made this call at an outreach for 100 widows, orphans and disabled persons at Idah. According to her, the distribution has been on since January, adding that the

objective was to put smile on the faces of the people. She assured the people that her pet project, “Women Empowerment Network (KOWEN), would bring together ordinary persons and the well to do in society. Wada said the main objective of KOWEN was to give hope and encouragement to the people. She urged the people of

Idah Local Government area to take advantage of the Fish Smoking Venture established by KOWEN to ensure bumper fish production and sales in and around Kogi. The Chairman, Idah Local Government Council, Dr Abutalib Abubakar, commended Wada for her consistency in giving the plight of the less privileged priority in her pet project.

Deputy Corps Marshal of FRSC, Mr. Chidi Nwachukwu (3rd left), Assistant Corps Marshal, Policy, Research and Statistics, Mr. Kayode Olagunju (right), and other stakeholders at the flag-off of FRSC 2014 National Bicycle Week in Abuja recently.

JALINGO - The Taraba Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has repatriated 11 nationals of the Niger Republic who were residing in the state illegally. The NIS State Comptroller, Mr Habibu Haruna, disclosed this at a news briefing in Jalingo. Haruna said the immigrants were arrested because they entered into the Takum axis of the state without valid travelling documents. He said the aliens did not have the required travelling documents as stipulated by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The comptroller, who was represented by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Solomon Gisilambe, said that the presence of the foreigners raised fears amongst residents of Takum. He said though the immigrants were not found with any incriminating materials, the command still had to repatriate them because they came in through illegal routes. According to Haruna, the immigrants were repatriated to their country through the Jibia border in Katsina State.

Council Calls For Law On Digital Migration

Man, 32, Docked Over Alleged Theft

Wada Canvasses For Needy

They beat Onideko with chain and belt, threatened to kill him if he did not cooperate with them, took his photograph and forced him to bring his identity card which they snapped. “The accused also asked him to write at the back of the receipt of his property that the property now belonged to them which he did under duress,’’ Olatunde said. Olatunde said the offences contravened Sections 285 and 410 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. Section 285 prescribes threeyear jail term as penalty for offenders. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the offences. The Magistrate, Mr Akeem Fashola, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50, 000 with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case to January 7 for mention.

ABUJA - The Federal Ministry of Information and other stakeholders have been urged to draft a Bill that will facilitate the enactment of a law on national switchover from analogue to digital transmission. The National Council on Information made the call at the end of its 45th meeting in Abuja. It will be recalled that the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Telecommunications Union, the UN agency that allocates radio spectrum and satellite orbits, directed that all countries should migrate from analogue to digital transmission by June 17, 2015. The communiqué also stated that the mass media of information should be effectively harnessed for public enlightenment towards keeping Ebola away permanently from Nigerian. It stressed the important role of mass media managers at federal, state and local government levels in ensuring adequate mobilisation and civic education of the people. “This is to enhance voters education and ensure credible and peaceful elections.’’ It expressed the need to reenforce the use of government printing press at all levels to ensure security and protection of government documents.

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Lagos

LASUTH Doctors Donate Blood LAGOS - No fewer than 50 doctors yesterday donated blood at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, for those in need. The donation was part of the programmes lined up for the Annual General Meeting of the Association of Resident Doctors, LASUTH chapter.

The President of the association, Dr Abdulsalam Moruf, said that 50 pints of blood were donated by the doctors. “Each person donates about 500 millilitres which is equal to a pint of blood and so if 50 people have donated; it means

that 50 pints have been collected. “If at the end of the programme, more doctors or other volunteers donate, we may have enough blood for the blood bank,“ he said. Moruf said doctors had been able to identify that there was

shortage of blood at the hospital, adding that this informed the donation. He said that the exercise was a way of encouraging people to voluntarily donate blood to those in need. “We all know in the country today that there is a Boko

Businessman Gets N2m Bail Over Illicit Drug Trafficking LAGOS - A Federal High Court in Lagos has slammed a N2m bail on a businessman, John Obi, over his attempt to export 21.69 kilogrammes of Methamphetamine to South Africa. Obi, whose address was not mentioned, is standing trial on a count charge of unlawful possession of illicit drug. The accused, who was arraigned by an officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), pleaded not guilty to the charge. Justice John Tsoho, who gave the ruling, also granted the accused a credible surety in like sum. Tsoho said that the surety must be a resident in Lagos and should depose to an affidavit of means of livelihood. He also ruled that the accused and the surety must present two passport photographs to the court as part of the bail conditions. The judge ordered the accused to be remanded in Ikoyi prison pending the time he would perfect the bail conditions. Counsel to the accused, Mr. Benson Ndakara, had urged the court to grant bail to the accused on liberal terms.

L-R: General Manager, Consumer Banking, MTN, Mr. Richard Iweanoge; General Manager, Regional Operations, Mr. Obinna Nweje and Igwe Nkem Nweke of Ezoloha ImamaAmafo Community of Enugu State at the launch of MTN Akanchawa Product in Enugu recently.

Haram crisis, cases of accidents; people took ill and generally some patients need blood. “As leaders of the profession, we will take the lead, not only in treating our patients, but also in donating blood to them, ‘’ Moruf said. He said that blood donation would benefit both the patients and the donors in many ways. “When you give blood, it also serves as a way of doing check up, because blood donation requires tests including blood pressure, hepatitis, HIV and other ailments. “Also, people who donate blood reduce excess iron in the body which predisposes one to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). “Donation itself acts as a form of exercise, because if one pint is collected, one will be losing about 650 calories,“ he said. In his remark, a volunteer, Dr Jimi Shodipo, said that blood donation was a way of giving

back to the society and saving lives. Shodipo said there was shortage of blood in the country, adding that blood donation was a way of bridging the gap. “Some areas have shortage than the others like in the Northern part of the country where there is a lot of crisis, injuries, and there is acute shortage of blood. “But also, there are places like Lagos where you have a large population of chronic illnesses and road traffic accidents and there is need for blood,“ he said. Shodipo said many people do not cultivate the culture of donating blood due to belief that donating blood would affect their health. “This is why we doctors have volunteered to donate blood to lead by example. “It also demystifies the notion that giving blood will make us ill. We also want to discourage commercial blood donation where people will get paid to donate blood,’’ he said.

Restore NUT Allowances, Union Appeals To FG LAGOS - The Lagos Wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has appealed to the state government to restore all allowances being withheld. Mr. Segun Raheem, the state NUT Chairman, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Lagos. According to him, some allowances that were paid by the previous administrations had been stopped. Raheem was speaking against the backdrop of some challenges facing teachers in the state. “Government has not done anything specific for teachers. “Otherwise, it has been a situation of allowances being enjoyed before that are being cut off. “Such allowances are the sport allowances for the

physical and health education teachers due to the rigorous work they are subjected to. “Other allowances are the duty post allowances for head teachers to run their schools, rural/ riverine allowances for those who teach in such areas, mathematics and science allowances, among others,” he said. Raheem said government was making effort to discourage teachers by the refusal to pay the outstanding 11.3 per cent of the Teachers Scheme Allowance (TSA). He alleged that the payment of theses allowances was long overdue, saying that various appeals had been made to the government and all these had proved abortive. Raheem said that the teachers in the state public schools were

“It will help the Association to standardise the name and the curriculum for Environmental Management Education programmes in tertiary institutions. “In doing this, EMAN will collaborate with the Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE),” the communique said. The communiqué also said that tertiary institutions should incorporate ‘Man and his Environment study’ in their general/foundation studies. It said this would help to

mainstream the ‘3Rs’ into annual environmental Management Programme activities to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle generated wastes and materials. The communiqué called on all levels of government to start the full implementation of the approved Environmental Management Officers’ Scheme of Service. It said that the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Act should be effectively implemented for all development projects through enhanced awareness creation and enforcement of the provisions of the Act.

being over burdened as there had not been employment of teachers in the state for 12years. “Our teachers have been dying, retiring and leaving the service and there has been no replacement. “This is telling on our teachers and the pupils because the teachers cannot do beyond their capacity. “Even in the secondary schools, there is what we call review of teachers, it is at that time we experience a wrong distribution of subject. “We have experienced cases of a teacher who is a major in Economics made to teach English or Social Studies major made to teach integrated

science. “It could be attributed to shortfall of teachers in secondary schools too. “All these are the challenges and if they are put in place, it is an indication of motivation that will appeal to teachers to do more,” he said. He advised the Nigerian Research and Development Council to organise a forum where all stakeholders in education would come together to review and restructure the curriculum. Raheem also said that the Nigerian University Commission should look into the admission policy into the colleges of education. “Education agencies should

look into the admission policy of those drawn to study education. “Those who do have the prerequisite are drafted to colleges of education and asked to sign a bond that they will have the prerequisite before they complete their studies. “This will, therefore, produce half baked teachers who are teachers by chance and not by choice which is not a healthy practice because being a teacher is a calling,” he said. Raheem said that education is a way of integrating youths into the society. “By the time all that is mentioned is done, it will be putting the right step into nation building.

Pass EMERCON Bill, NASS Urged

LAGOS - The Environmental Management Association of Nigeria (EMAN) has urged the National Assembly (NASS) to speed up action on the Bill for an Act to establish the Environmental Managers Registration Council of Nigeria (EMERCON). The Association said this in a Communiqué issued after its 4th National Conference held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom. The Communique was signed by Dr Emmanuel Ating, EMAN National President. “EMERCON will ensure that Environmental Management Practice in Nigeria is effectively regulated, based on formal training.

L-R: Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr. Benjamin Dikki (right), presenting document for handing over of Stallion Property and Development Company (SPDC) to the Chairman, NNPC Pension Fund Limited (PFL), Dr. Dan Efebo in Abuja recently.

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Abuja Stakeholders Commend INEC’s Commitment To ABUJA - Some political PWDs stakeholders have commended

Heads of parastatals of the Ministry of Communication Technology at a Ministerial Platform of the Ministry in Abuja recently.

NNPC Allays Fears On Fuel Supply

Oil Workers’ Strike: THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has assured that the three-day strike embarked upon by oil workers will not affect distribution and sale of fuel to members of the public. This is contained in a statement issued by the Group General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr Ohi Alegbe, in Abuja. The strike was embarked upon by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) over demand for the reinstatement of some sacked workers. The statement said the management of NNPC was negotiating with the leadership of the unions who gave the assurance that they would not disrupt the fuel supply and distribution system. It added that the action was basically aimed at addressing the anti-labour issues by some of the International Oil Companies (IOCs). The statement stated that NNPC had revealed that it had over 32 days stock of petroleum products available for supply across the nation during the Yuletide season and beyond. The corporation also stated that 17 additional petroleum laden vessels were at the Lagos Port waiting to discharge to the various depots for onward distribution to members of the public. It further assured the public

that everything was being done to ensure that there was no hitch in the supply system that could cause any form of hardship to motorists, especially those who

intended to travel during the period. The statement called on the public to avoid panic buying or stock piling of fuel, to

avoid needless queues or fire that could lead to loss of lives and property. It also advised marketers to desist from hoarding or diversion of petroleum products as any marketer caught in the act would be sanctioned.

L-R: Managing Director, Nigeria Film Coorporation, Dr. Danjuma Dadu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan and Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON), Malam Abubakar Jijiwa, at the 45th National Council on Information meeting in Abuja recently.

the efforts of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove all barriers preventing Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) from participating in the nation’s electoral process. The stakeholders who spoke with newsmen in Abuja said that INEC’s provision for persons with disabilities to be part of the elections was a demonstration of its consideration for human sensibilities. It was recalled that Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had at a conference recently, said that the commission was taking measures to ensure that PWDs had access to the electoral process in the country. Áccording to Jega, some important voter education materials such as ‘Frequently Asked Questions’, ‘Guide to Transfer of Registration’, etc., should be produced in Braille for the benefit of our visually impaired brothers and sisters. One of the stakeholders and National Chairman of InterParty Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr Yunusa Tanko, said that the effort by INEC to integrate the disabled persons into the country’s electoral process would enhance the country’s electoral system. “It will also give the electoral process more credibility of inclusiveness by all concerned. That way, nobody will be disenfranchised from voting the candidate that he wants. “Anybody can become a person with disability within a tinkle of an eye. So if we prepare for the people in that category, that means we have prepared for ourselves, in case we find ourselves in that particular situation, ’’ Tanko said. He also urged the National Assembly to look at the issue with a sense of commitment and responsibility, saying “the PWDs could have been their brothers, sisters or even themselves”. “All enabling laws to ensure that any person with disability has easy access to voting will be a welcome development,’’ he said. The National President, Association of Sign Language Interpreters of Nigeria (ASLIN), Mr. Timothy Tirat, also applauded the INEC’s commitment to the plight of persons with disability. Tirat said that though the commission might not achieve the goal at once, ‘’ I believe that it is achievable’’.

Atiku Outraged Over Attack On Yobe School

ABUJA - The United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWA), said that no fewer than 700,000 Nigerians were displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency. Mr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the UN for West Africa, said this at the 46th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government (HOSG). Chambas, who put the number of refugees and returnees in Chad, Cameroon, and Niger at about 142,000 persons called on all parties concerned to intensify efforts

at ensuring the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals were met. “The Boko Haram insurgency continues to create mayhem as innocent civilian populations are being killed and entire communities are living under very challenging security situations. “The regional dimension of this violent extremism is more than ever visible. “The number of refugees and returnees in Chad, Cameroon, and Niger is estimated at about 142,000 persons. “In Nigeria Internally Displaced

Persons are estimated to be about 700,000. “Efforts need to be stepped up to globally and comprehensively combat the insurgency. “The issue of youth unemployment needs to be urgently addressed and the attainment of the objectives of the MDGs which has been shadowed by the many security challenges we’re facing, not only on the African continent but the entire world, needs to be refocused. “The nexus between peace, security and development cannot

be overemphasised,“ he said. The UN representative also commended ECOWAS for restoring political stability in Burkina Faso. He said: “UN will remain actively engaged jointly with ECOWAS to prepare for transparent, free, and fair elections that will mark the end of the transition period in 2015. “Events in Burkina Faso should be viewed as a call for improved governance and especially participative democracy which allows the driving force in our region.“ Chambas also called for concerted efforts at ensuring violent-free elections in member-states preparing to hold elections in 2015.

He urged governments at all levels, cooperate bodies and individuals, to support INEC’s vision for people with disability. On her part, Mrs. Asimawu Abdullahi, a visually impaired person, said that the concern of the commission for persons with disabilities would give them “voices and recognition’’. She said that people with disabilities had been looking forward to the time that they would have access to the electoral process in the country.

Council Tasks Information Managers On 2015 Election

ABUJA - The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information, Dr Folashade YemiEsan, called on information managers to disseminate credible information to the public as 2015 general elections draw new. Yemi-Esan made the call at the technical session of the 45th National Council on Information (NCI) meeting in Abuja. She, however, stressed the need to articulate government agenda of ensuring free and fair credible election. According to her, this can be achieved by formulating and implementing various communication channels to disseminate timely and accurate information. “As the elections draw closer we should take a leaf from Mr President by promoting the message of unity and peace. “You would recall his appeal to Nigerians on peaceful electioneering during the official declaration of his intention to contest in the 2015 presidential election. “President Goodluck Jonathan appealed to the people of the country not to harm, maim or kill and not to incite violence of any kind.’’ She further urged the information managers to come up with an all-inclusive public enlightenment campaign strategy to guide against violence and disruption of public order. The permanent secretary stressed the need to employ more effective ways of ensuring full participation of all citizens to promote equitable participation. “The media should provide information in a way to ensure equal access to information using opinion and community leaders as well as civil society organizations.’’ She, however, warned against negative use of the social media to propagate false information and violence. Yemi-Esan said the council was expected to arrive at conclusions that would sufficiently prepare information managers to rise up to the challenges of checking those that want to exploit the media. The theme of the two-day meeting is: “Strategic Information Management and Peaceful Elections’’. Dr Nurudeen Muhammed, the Supervisory Minister of information and FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed, led address the meeting.

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Business & Economy BPE Committed To Addressing Housing Deficit In Nigeria ABUJA - The DirectorGeneral, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr Benjamin Dikki, reiterated the bureau’s effort in bridging housing shortage in the country. Dikki said this at the handover of Stallion Property and Development Company (SPDC) to the NNPC Pension Funds Limited. He said that the National

Council on Privatisation, headed by Vice President Namadi Sambo, had approved the privatisation of the Federal Government’s 51 per cent shares of SPDC to NNPC Pension Funds. He said that the transaction was part of BPE’s effort to restructure the housing sector so as to cover the 17 million housing deficit in the country.

“BPE is currently working with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development on the reforms and restructuring of the housing sector. There is a lot to be tapped by SPDC in the sector. “We would like to encourage NNPC PFL to work hard and inject funds in SPDC in order to harness these huge

- Dikki

opportunities, create more employment and add value to the Nigerian economy,’’ he said. Dikki also said that the proceed from the divestment of FG’s 51 per cent shareholding in SPDC would be used to bridge the funding gap in the NNPC Staff Pension Fund.

Meanwhile, Dr Dan Efebo, the Managing Director, NNPC Pension Funds Limited, said that the privatisation of SPDC shows government’s strong support in strengthening the NNPC pension funds. “We believe that there is a lot of potential in SPDC and we will work to ensure that the aim of this transaction is achieved.

Why Dwindling Crude Oil Price Affects Nigeria - Omar

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos (4th left), Dean, Faculty of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Philip Jegede (2nd left), and others during a visit by Obafemi Awolowo Free Education Order of the University to the Governor in Lagos recently.

ABUJA Malam Abdulwaheed Omar, the President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has said that the dwindling crude oil price is affecting the country because Nigeria has never imbibed the culture of saving. Omar spoke at a briefing on the ongoing strike by NUPENG and PENGASSAN on Tuesday that it was the refusal of government to fulfill agreements reached with the unions that led to strike. He said that in spite of the crude oil situation faced by the country, the unions would not stop fighting for the rights of the people. The NLC president said that it was high time the government stop breaching agreement reached at the negotiation table. “I think it is high time we call on government to make sure that

Ogun To Spend N1.27bn To Conduct LG Elections In 2015 ABEOKUTA - The Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) said it planned to spend N1.27 billion on the conduct of council elections in the 20 local government areas in the state in 2015. The Chairman of OGSIEC, Alhaja Risikat Ogunfemi, made this known in Abeokuta while defending the commission’s 2015 budget before the state’s House of Assembly’s Finance and Appropriation Committee. Ogunfemi said that the commission would embark on sensitisation of voters in all the 236 political wards in the state prior to the councils’ polls. She said that the agency would also organise seminars and workshops in the three senatorial districts for all political parties. Also at the budget defence, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transportation, Mr Gbenga Opesanwo, said that the Bureau of Transportation proposed N965 million for its activities during the year. Opesanwo said N215 million was for recurrent expenditure while N750 million would be expended on capital projects.

“With the necessary support and all the market approach, we will harness the Real Estate market in the country’’, he said. The highlight of the meeting was the handover of the shares certificate of SPDC to NNPC Pension Funds. When asked about the value of the transaction from BPE and NNPC Funds Limited, both parties declined to comment.

He said that the bureau would evolve strategies to reduce traffic congestions, road accidents and improve the aesthetics of the roads and their infrastructure. On his part, Mr Ayo Sangofadeji, Commander, Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), explained that the agency would reduce the rate of reported traffic crashes in the state by 15 per cent in 2015. Consequently, he said that the agency proposed N657 million for its activities during the year, with N200 million earmarked for capital expenditure and N457million for recurrent expenditure.

National Co-ordinator, 2015 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration, Brig.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas (left), decorating Senate President David Mark with the Armed Forces Remembrance Emblem in Abuja recently.

ABUJA - The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group unanimously approved a financial package of 500 million dollars to support the establishment of the Development Bank of Nigeria PLC (DBN). This is contained in a statement by the bank yesterday in Abuja. The statement said the financial package consisted of loans of 450 million dollars and an equity investment of 50

million in the DBN. It stated that the funds from the AfDB Group would be used to support Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) operating in various sectors of the Nigerian economy. “The DBN is being established by the Federal Government of Nigeria in partnership with international development financial institutions such as the AfDB, the World Bank, KfW of Germany and the French

AfDB Approves $500m For DBN Development Agency (AFD). “Recognising the limitations of the existing Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) in Nigeria, the FGN has decided to establish a DFI, which will be better regulated and more clearly aligned with development priorities. “Furthermore, to ensure sustainable impact and scale, the mandate, governance and operations of the DBN will be grounded in internationally recognised good practice principles,” it said. The statement said the

structure and operational design of the DBN had been informed by global experience and the designs of successful DFIs from across the world. It added that AfDB had taken into account all the factors that led to the under performance of the existing DFIs in Nigeria. The statement said the MSME sector was critical to the development of the Nigerian economy as it possessed great potentials for employment generation and output diversification.

every agreement mutually reached and signed must be implemented as when due. “We must note that failure on either side should not be condoled because I have not even seen anywhere, where agreements reached with workers are breached by those in authority. “This does not speak well of our democracy because democracy means do what is right,’’ Omar said.

Gas Exporting Countries Express Worry Over Market Volatility DOHA (QATAR) - The Gas Exporting Country Forum (GECF), at its 16th Ministerial Meeting in Doha , Qatar, expressed concern over the increasing volatility of the energy market around the world. The Chairman of the meeting and Minister of Energy and Industry of Qatar, Dr Mohammed Saleh Alsada, said this in Doha He said the industry was facing a crucial challenge of increasing volatility of the energy market, adding that the trend was driven by various reasons, including economy and political elements. “The GECF is a platform for cooperation among the member countries. “Its existence and the success achieved so far is a reflection of its members’ determination to cooperate yet on a mutual understanding and cooperation as to grow the industry, especially in facing the crucial challenges of today’s increasing volatility of energy market which is driven by variety of reasons. “These include economy and political elements which affect its stability of the market; we need to be alert and keep monitoring the volatility of energy market. “We do hope that the benefit of cooperation and collaboration among the GCEF member countries will be reflected on the global gas industry in the way that contribute to realising the interest of all crucial parties. “We assured, once again, our continued support in strenghtening the gas forum.”

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) AS AT YESTERDAY(17/12/2014) Stocks

Open

Change

Deals

Units

Value

NASCON

5.97

5.8

-0.17

2,123,460

12,107,808.80

7UP

159

166.7

7.7

129,442

20,556,044.02

138.7

132

-6.7

7,304,305

963,231,004.40

ABCTRANS

0.55

0.53

-0.02

173,900

92,237.00

NEIMETH

0.78

58,728

44,046.00

0.58

0.56

-0.02

428,000

240,950.00 806,742,060.50

ACCESS

5.7

-0.3

5,781,406

33,135,371.64

NEM

AFRIPRUD

2.8

2.66

-0.14

1,540,568

4,105,464.41

NESTLE

783

770.61

-12.39

1,029,999

AGLEVENT

1.31

40,500

50,625.00

NEWGOLD

2103

2138

49,174.00

AIICO

0.71

0.68

-0.03

519,000

352,990.00

NIG-GERMAN

6.65

6.32

-0.33

75,856

479,409.92

AIRSERVICE

1.8

1.71

-0.09

115,233

197,048.43

NIGERINS

0.5

2,559,200

1,279,600.00

ALEX

10.43

14,750

146,172.50

NIGROPES

7.46

100

709

ASHAKACEM

24.6

10,706

250,199.22

NNFM

18.05

960

16,464.00

0.77

470,121

348,000.54

ASOSAVINGS

0.5

2,000

1,000.00

NPFMCRFBK

BECOPETRO

0.5

7,600

3,800.00

NSE30

1352.16

1306.48

-45.68

311,365,680

5,714,913,755.00

BERGER

840

7,182.00

NSE50

1483.25

1434.8

-48.45

465,277,362

6,094,706,286.00

BETAGLAS

25.2

26.46

1.26

63,203

1,649,974.00

NSEASEM

1078.59

1099.82

21.23

105,000

79,650.00

CADBURY

-1

686,848

26,789,975.50

NSEASI

29789.59

28961.67

-827.92

481,745,767

6,210,984,712.00

CAP

33.01

34.66

1.65

252,459

8,741,953.94

NSEBNK

310.42

296.7

-13.72

272,856,645

3,186,496,257.00

CAVERTON

3.17

10,343

31,235.86

NSECNSMRGDS

766.9

739.07

-27.83

17,533,117

1,899,753,018.00

CCNN

8.81

102,270

900,982.70

NSEINDUSTR

1791.25

1757.36

-33.89

4,027,846

387,604,564.60

CHAMPION

5.96

5.67

-0.29

197,600

1,121,030.00

NSEINS

142.21

141.28

-0.93

56,360,324

42,944,274.84

CHAMS

0.5

2,000

1,000.00

NSELOTUSISLM

1956.64

1913.41

-43.23

8,841,196

1,263,467,805.00

CILEASING

0.5

200,500

100,250.00

NSEOILGAS

382.47

365.21

-17.26

4,791,338

114,739,704.90

16.63

15.8

-0.83

4,203,522

66,482,023.30

CONOIL

49.23

21,000

982,170.00

OANDO

CONTINSURE

0.83

0.84

0.01

35,250,500

29,257,735.00

OKOMUOIL

25.37

24.11

-1.26

150,910

3,638,440.10

CORNERST

0.5

500

250

OMATEK

0.5

3,000

1,500.00

COSTAIN

0.88

53,500

44,940.00

OMOSAVBNK

0.73

0.76

0.03

105,000

79,650.00 5,600.00

COURTVILLE

0.5

4,900

2,450.00

PAINTCOM

1.47

4,000

CUSTODYINS

3.78

3.6

-0.18

58,316,119

218,391,684.80

PORTPAINT

4.3

3,500

14,315.00

CUTIX

1.24

98,966

124,700.30

PRESCO

24.32

23.11

-1.21

313,000

7,254,330.00

DAARCOMM

0.5

31,000

15,500.00

PRESTIGE

0.5

153,125

76,562.50 6,651,996.06

DANGCEM

158.84

153

-5.84

1,693,646

255,908,772.50

29.25

27.79

-1.46

239,314

DANGFLOUR

4.6

4.37

-0.23

554,459

2,422,985.83

REDSTAREX

3.61

3.75

0.14

283,400

1,029,126.00

DANGSUGAR

5.2

4.94

-0.26

2,869,905

14,264,069.89

REGALINS

0.5

2,750

1,375.00

DEAPCAP

0.7

45,000

30,150.00

RESORTSAL

0.5

3,000

1,500.00

DIAMONDBNK

5.1

4.85

-0.25

9,654,457

46,829,876.15

RTBRISCOE

0.78

0.75

-0.03

1,215,000

911,250.00

DNMEYER

0.87

7,906

6,561.98

SCOA

4.67

12,500

55,500.00

EKOCORP

3.72

247

874.38

SEPLAT

280.25

266.24

-14.01

320,712

85,536,110.90

ENAMELWA

31.82

200

6,364.00

SKYEBANK

2.19

2.09

-0.1

7,252,452

15,158,197.68

EQUITYASUR

0.5

2,500

1,250.00

STANBIC

28.5

27.08

-1.42

210,896

5,711,860.36

ETERNA

3.11

318,995

942,350.95

STDINSURE

0.5

62,500

31,250.00

2.24

2.19

-0.05

7,676,249

16,359,801.40

ETI

17.1

-0.9

21,377,494

365,630,071.00

STERLNBANK

ETRANZACT

2.8

2.94

0.14

50,534

148,564.62

TANTALIZER

0.5

2,500

1,250.00

EVANSMED

2.18

800

1,664.00

THOMASWY

0.73

10,500

7,665.00

FBNH

8.2

7.79

-0.41

24,202,702

188,785,468.90

TOTAL

158

150.11

-7.89

23,210

3,484,211.10

2.96

2.82

-0.14

7,741,835

21,840,443.70 15,110.49

FCMB

2.89

240,000

681,300.00

TRANSCORP

FIDELITYBK

1.51

1.44

-0.07

65,544,953

95,208,152.09

TRIPPLEG

1.86

8,537

FIDSON

3.24

3.35

0.11

595,000

1,986,300.00

UAC-PROP

10.1

9.6

-0.5

146,195

1,405,563.40

FLOURMILL

37.52

35.65

-1.87

454,520

16,209,262.10

UBA

3.62

3.44

-0.18

27,989,548

96,285,545.12 4,209,827.92

216.13

205.33

-10.8

171,765

35,305,106.23

UBCAP

1.52

1.45

-0.07

2,884,788

FTNCOCOA

0.5

57,000

28,500.00

UBN

7.22

47,854

328,278.44

GLAXOSMITH

19,138

945,417.20

UNHOMES

0.5

200,000

100,000.00

GNI

0.5

500

250

UNILEVER

31.35

-1.65

362,359

11,409,670.15

GUARANTY

21.45

20.4

-1.05

110,187,915

2,246,551,509.00

UNIONDICON

13.41

13.95

0.54

126,000

1,757,700.00

GUINEAINS

0.5

300

150

UNITYBNK

0.5

1,000,000

500,000.00

GUINNESS

117.09

115

-2.09

115,979

13,116,457.38

UNIVINSURE

0.5

100,000

50,000.00

4.05

1,620

6,237.00

HMARKINS

0.5

2,000

1,000.00

UPL

HONYFLOUR

3.09

55,561

164,004.34

UTC

0.5

129,700

64,850.00

IKEJAHOTEL

4.06

3.86

-0.2

345,440

1,333,776.40

VETGRIF30

13.73

13.05

-0.68

1,467

19,931.13

INTENEGINS

0.5

10,555

5,277.50

VITAFOAM

3.69

3.6

-0.09

1,409,366

4,966,649.37 369,951.00

JAPAULOIL

0.5

257,840

128,920.00

VONO

0.91

0.9

-0.01

412,800

JBERGER

60.66

8,273

476,772.99

WAPCO

66.5

-3.5

1,798,256

120,000,885.00

LAWUNION

0.5

100

WAPIC

0.63

0.6

-0.03

16,932,964

10,176,809.69

LEARNAFRCA

1.47

1.4

-0.07

50,957

71,397.22

WEMABANK

0.96

0.04

23,077,136

22,676,986.00

ZENITHBANK

16.44

15.62

-0.82

17,344,317

271,009,454.30

LIVESTOCK

2.32

2.21

-0.11

292,000

645,320.00

LOTUSHAL15

9.3

9.06

-0.24

502.8

MANSARD

3.04

-0.04

504,660

1,553,190.15

MAYBAKER

1.54

117,907

173,323.29

MBENEFIT

0.5

500

250

MOBIL

151.05

143.5

-7.55

52,407

7,520,488.54

MORISON

1.82

716

1,303.12

MRS

439

23,354.80

NAHCO

3.85

3.74

-0.11

292,242

1,094,468.96

TOP 10 GAINERS Stock NEWGOLD NSEASEM 7UP CAP BETAGLAS UNIONDICON REDSTAREX ETRANZACT FIDSON WEMABANK

TOP TOP 10 10 LOSERS GAINERS

Gain

2138 1099.82 166.7 34.66 26.46 13.95 3.75 2.94 3.35 1

35 21.23 7.7 1.65 1.26 0.54 0.14 0.14 0.11 0.04

Stock Loss NSEASI 827.92 NSE50 48.45 NSE30 45.68 NSELOTUSISLM 43.23 NSEINDUSTR 33.89 NSECNSMRGDS 27.83 NSEOILGAS 17.26 SEPLAT 14.01 NSEBNK 13.72 NESTLE 12.39

Close 28961.67 1434.8 1306.48 1913.41 1757.36 739.07 365.21 266.24 296.7 770.61

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

THE Samuel Ogbemudia Forum of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Observer Chapel holds today at the corporate headquarters of the Bendel Newspapers Company Limited, publishers of The Observer titles. THE forum is not new. It has been celebrated annually since 2001 until it was rechristened this year. The renaming, from all indications, is significant. It is meant to signpost and identify with the yearnings and aspirations of the populace for Good Governance across the length and breadth of our nation and in doing that, some concretization is necessary. INTERESTINGLY, The then Midwest Newspapers Corporation, now Bendel Newspapers Company Limited, publishers of the Observer titles was established by Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia as a child of necessity on May 29, 1968. The newspaper was published as document for daily circulation that would inform the public on the activities of government of the then Midwest State, educate as well as provide a forum for a two-way communication. THE founder of the newspaper and then Governor of Midwest, Colonel Samuel Ogbemudia, even though a military officer, demonstrated his penchant for a free press, which is the hallmark and essential ingredient of democratic society. He observed that “if the publication is to discharge its sacred functions effectively and efficiently too, it should be free from

THE NIGERIAN

Sustaining The NUJ Annual Samuel Ogbemudia Forum government control as to what it should write or not write, it should also be free to criticise any aspect of government policy which it considers worthy of criticism in public. He gave the management and staff of the newspaper house free hand to operate a free press and provided all the resources needed to make it the flagship among its contemporaries. WE are glad to learn that Journalists of The Observer stable are very conscious of the role reserved for the media in highlighting the main issues of the day and setting an agenda befitting and benefitting society. Little wonder this year’s edition is focusing on “Advancing Media Freedom, The Promise Of Technology,” as its theme, even as the nation wades through a high political tempo ahead of next year’s general elections. ALSO, , we believe that the new Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia Forum has to be fortified by all stakeholders to enable media practitioners in the establishment step up their performance in the discharge of this sacred duty in years ahead. It is also heartwarming to note

that the Nigerian Observer boasts of some of the best brains in the journalism profession, practitioners who are highly knowledgeable, dedicated, and competent in the discharge of their duties. We are further encouraged to note that some of the best brains in the print and electronic media across the country, at one time or the other cut their teeth in the Observer. WE recognise the busy nature of journalists across the world as busy men and women who leave home very early, and very often do not know when they return home with all the attendant hazards and those of the Nigerian Observer are no exception. According to the Leaders of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Observer Chapel who instituted the annual forum in their maiden edition, “The annual forum was conceptualized to provide an opportunity for all stakeholders in the business of governance as well as the private sector and Non-Governmental Organisations to come together at the end of year to cross-fertilize ideas with members of the fourth estate of the realm on topical state issues.” We believe that the annual aspiration is laudable and should be sustained. ON the occasion of the inaugural Samuel Ogbemudia forum, the OBSERVER pledges to continuously uphold the highest tenets of journalistic practice, while welcoming and saluting Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia after whom the forum is re-named.

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Development THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in its Monetary Policy Circular No. 35 for the year 2001 stated the new initiative that evolved under the aegis of the Banker ’s Committee to give impetus to current efforts aimed at ensuring adequate financial assistance to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs). This initiative requires banks to set aside 10% of their profit before tax for the financing and promotion of SMEs in Nigeria. Obviously, this scheme adds to the long list of schemes that had been established to give support in various forms to SMEs in recognition of their relevance to the development process. The relevance of SMEs to economic development of our nation is further underscored by the recent bill on the establishment of the Small and Medium Industries Development Agency (SMIDA) sent by the Executive to the National Assembly. SMEs are particularly relevant in creating employment opportunities, producing import substituting machinery and equipment, mitigating rural urban drift, producing specialized items in small quantities to meet diverse needs, mobilization of local resources as well as stimulation of technological development and innovation, among others. In view of the importance of the SMEs in the development process, this chapter highlights the major efforts taken at various times to stimulate the development of SMEs in Nigeria. It further focuses on the new initiative for financing SMEs in Nigeria through the banking system and indicates some plausible implications for the safety and soundness of the Nigerian banking system. The rest of the chapter is organized into five sections. Section two explores the concept of SMEs, while section 3 highlights various efforts aimed at facilitating the promotion of SMEs in Nigeria. Section 4 examines the size and performance of SMEs in Nigeria, while section 5 explore 5 the safety and soundness and implications of funding SMEs through the banking system particularly under the new initiative. Section 6 summarizes and concludes the paper 13.1 The Concept Of Small And Medium Scale Enterprises 12.1.1 Definition and Characteristics There is no consensus on the definition of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) as the terms small and medium are relative and they differ from industry to industry and country to country. The difference amongst industries could be ascribed to the different capital requirements of each business whilst those among countries could arise as a result of differences in

industrial organizations of countries at different levels of economic development. What might therefore be defined as SME in a developed country can be regarded as a large scale enterprise in a developing country using the parameters of fixed investment and employment of labour force. It is important to also recognize that definitions change over a period of time and hence even in a developing country what was previously classified as SMB could be regarded as a large scale industry when economies of scale set in during the course of production. In Nigeria, several attempts have been made to define and classify SMEs and probably due to differences in policy focus, different government agencies

SMES:

Foundation For Rapid Economic Development (1)

and working capital not exceeding N750,000, while it defined medium scale businesses as those operating within the range of N750,000 to N3.O million. In 1979, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in its credit guidelines to commercial banks, stated that small scale enterprises were those with annual turnover not exceeding N500,000, while the merchant banks were to regard small scale enterprises as those with capital investment not million exceeding N2 (excluding cost of land) or with maximum turnover of not more than N5 million. It is arguable whether these criteria could hold in the present

By GANIYU ADEWALE OGUNLEYE

SMEs, the enterprises are bounded by some common characteristics. First amongst these features is that ownership and management are often held by one individual/family and hence decisions are often subjective. Secondly, SMEs require small capital base in general regardless of the industry and the country where• they are based. However, they have difficulty in attracting funds for expansion as a result of which they have to relyheavily on personal sources.

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu.

apply various definitions. For instance, the Centre for Industrial Research and Development (CIRD) of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife defined Small Scale Enterprise as an enterprise with a working capital base not exceeding N250,000 and employing on full time basis, 50 workers or less. The Nigerian Bank for Commerce and Industry (NBC) (now merged with others institutions to become Bank of Industry) adopted a definition of small scale business as one with total capital not exceeding N750,000 (excluding cost of land but including working capital). The Federal Ministry of industry’s guidelines to NBCL defined a small scale enterprise as one with a total cost not exceeding N500,000 (excluding cost of land but including working capital). The Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (NIDB now part of Bank of Industry) defined small scale enterprise as an enterprise that has investment

day Nigeria given the higher operational costs as a result of the continuous-depreciation of the national currency and the resultant inflationary impacts. A definition that is close to reality of today is the one adopted by the World Bank. In implementing its programme of $270 million loan assistance to Nigeria’s SMEs, the World Bank defined SMEs as those with fixed assets (excluding land) plus cost of the investment project not exceeding N10 million in constant 1988 prices. This definition was adopted by the National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND), the agency saddled with the responsibility of financing SMEs. In the Industrial policy for the country, small scale industries are defined as those enterprises with total investment of between N1 00,000 and P42.0 million excluding the cost of capital but including working capital. Despite the disparity in the comparative definitions of

Thirdly, the manager/proprietor hardly can separate his private funds from the company’s funds and this contributes to the inefficiency and nonperformance of many SMEs. Fourthly, most SMEs operate labour-intensive technology. They find it less easy to shift from one product line to something radically different. In fact most SMEs tie their objectives more closely to the product line than to other matters such as the use of capital. In most SMEs, there is less organizational differentiation, higher employee turnover and higher labour investment ratio. Finally, the rate of business mortality is high probably due to reasons of low capital, inadequate market information, lack of appropriate technology and low level of operation, amongst other factors. 131.2 Relevance The relevance of SMEs can never be over emphasized especially in a developing country like Nigeria. In most

countries where SMEs are specially promoted by government, the main expected role of these institutions can be summarized as follows: • Supply of potential entrepreneurs • Creation of employment opportunities • Mobilization of local resources • Mitigation of rural urban migration • Distribution of industrial enterprises As indicated above, SMEs are primarily expected to serve as bedrock of supply of promising entrepreneurs who would be ready to take chance on the exploration of new ideas or favourable market development. They are expected to assist in further entrepreneurship and skill development. Secondly, SMEs create more jobs per unit of invested capital. In most developing economies, unemployment is the greatest threat to economic growth and development. Hence, the proliferation of SMEs could be an antidote to large scale unemployment in these economies. This could be specially helpful in mitigating the rural urban drift, a burgeoning socio economic problem in the developing economies. This is because most of the enterprises in the rural areas are small scale in nature and increased chances of their survival could spell their greater ability to sustain the rural dwellers. In addition to the above, the promotion of SMEs is expected to ensure the structural balance in terms of large and small industrial sectors as well as rural and urban areas. SMEs are expected to ensure the supply of high quality parts and components, and intermediate products, thereby minimizing the dependence on imported raw materials. Thus SMEs would not only encourage indigenous technology but also promote the establishment of import substitution industries. They are expected to produce for exports. thereby generate additional foreign exchange and hence help to strengthen the national currency and the balance of payment position. Finally, apart / from ensuring effective mobilization of resources, SMEs are expected to ensure better use of scarce financial resources and appropriate technology.: 13 Experience of Other Countries SMEs which are usually referred to as Small Businesses in developed economies, have contributed to the growth and development of those economies, especially in terms of employment, contribution to GDP, export, et cetera. For

instance, in the United State of America (USA), small business is seen as a means for enhanced economic opportunity, innovation and growth. Also, it is commonly accepted that there is a role in the US economy for independent enterprises that stay small. Historically, these values have been reflected in the legislative and regulatory considerations given to small businesses, as well as in antitrust policies that aim to limit the concentration of economic power (Samolyk, 1997). It is as a result of these concerted efforts that the USA currently has a small business sector that has about 22 million enterprises, generating more than a half of the country’s GDP, employing about 53% of the total private workforce and is responsible for creating vast majority of all new jobs. Of the 3.3 million jobs created in 1994, small scale industrial and business enterprises produced an estimated 62%. Also in China, the number of township enterprises increased from 1.52 million in 1978 to 19 million in 1991. During this period, their employees increased from 28 million to 96 million. They equally employed 22.3% of the total rural labour force. The greater value addition has even occurred in the developing economies where the SMEs have become the bedrock of development. This is especially true in the Middle East and Asia regions. For instance, in Iran, the Small and Medium Enterprise Sector contributed more than 62% of industrial output and more than 75% of total employment in 1996. Similarly, in Israel, SMEs accounted for 97% of Israel’ enterprises in 1996, employing some 50% of the country’s workforce. Recently, 4,500 new jobs were created in the sector through assistance given to new immigrants. Over 50,000 people have been assisted in opening their businesses and there is a high record of take off success (estimated at more than 70%) of small businesses after one year of operation. Of greater impact is the contribution of SMEs to the growth and development of the Indian economy. India took advantage of the Industrial Policy Resolution of 1949 and paid more attention to the development of Small Scale Industries (SSIs). Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the government offered the sector subsidies, reservations and direct support. Over the years, SSIs have grown all over India. The sector comprises of tiny units, small scale industrial undertakings, small scale services and business enterprises, export-oriented units and women entrepreneurs, enterprises all totaling 3.1 million units as at the end of 1998-1999.

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Health And Wellness

I’M sure many of you have, at one point in time or another, won a heart, broken a heart, or maybe even stolen a heart. But how much do you really know about the heart—which is actually an incredible muscle—and, more importantly, how to take care of it? First of all, if you’re an adult, your heart is about the size of two fists put together and it is located in the center of your chest, tirelessly slightly toward your left lung. This fantastic muscle works tirelessly, beating about 100,000 times a day. (Over the course of an average lifetime, that’s about 2.5 billion beats.) It is busily pumping about six quarts of blood to every area of your body In just one day. your blood travels a total of 12,000 miles! That’s four times the distance across the United States, from coast to coast and during the course of an average lifetime, the heart will pump about one million barrels of blood—more than enough to fill three supertankers. Isn’t that amazing? Yet in this country alone, 34 percent of all men and women die of cardiovascular disease and among AfricanAmerican men and women, the statistic is even more worrisome—41 percent of all deaths can be attributed to cardiovascular disease.’ These are distressing statistics, yet what is really alarming is our attitude. While many Americans make the connection between diet and heart health, others have come to accept this epidemic as a normal part of life and the aging process; but this is absolutely, without question, simply a case of ignorance and wrong thinking! The problem, according to Dr. Rowen Pfeifer, is that “We see people all around us — they’re getting to be middleaged, and we expect them to have a few chronic health problems, such as heart disease. We think this must be normal! But it’s not normal; it’s very common and common is not normal. Being sick is not normal. We’re meant to be healthy

Cardiovascular Disease

into a ripe old age.” While observing other parts of the world, we find that heart disease is virtually nonexistent, primarily due to the fact that people of other cultures subsist on a plantbased diet. In places like rural China, the Papua Islands, and Central Africa, for instance, coronary artery disease is practically nonexistent. In an article from The Journal of the Academy of Rher. Diseases, Dr. Gus J. Prosch, M.D., tells a startling story about a rioscierosis: “Before 1900, this disease was hardly known and was extremely rare. In fact, the first ‘heart attack’ was described in the medical literature in 1910. Dr. Paul Dudley White (fli dent Eisenhower ’s heart specialist) saw a heart attack for the first time in 1929. The disease began with the advent of hydroj’ oils (margarine) and the processing (refining) of our grain foodssuch as wheat, corn, rye, barley, oats, etc., where all the vital fatty acids are removed from these grains. The food companies must remove these fatty acids so that the grain foods do not turn rancid and spoil, otherwise the foods would not last long on the shelves of our supermarkets. Our great-great-grandparents and their parents had very little arteriosclerosis even though their diets included foods known to be high in cholesterol such as eggs, butter, lard, and ‘sow-bellies,’ etc. However, they did not eat any hydrogenated oils, and their grain foods were home ground and not processed.” Dr. Prosch continues, “In America, we are developing a arteriosclerosis at earlier ages than ever before even though there is a greater effort on the part of most of us to decrease our cholesterol intake in our diets. Autopsies performed on our soldier killed in the Korean War showed approximately 30percent of

By GEORGE MALKMUS

these young men suffered from advanced arteriosclerosis about 20 years later, in the Vietnam War, autopsies performed on our soldiers killed showed approximately 60 percent suffered from advanced arteriosclerosis.” Dr Fuhrman has seen many patients suffering from heart disease. Over the years he has noted higher incidences of coronary disease, not only in different parts of the country but also

graves with our knives and forks in this country and we’re spreading this dangerous America style of eating all over the world. In fact, if we wanted to scientifically design a diet to create an epidemic of heart disease, cancer, and obesity we couldn’t do a better job than utilizing the diet style that Americans are eating today. We are loading up on saturated fats, especially from all the cheese we eat in America. Cheese has

in different professions: “Heart attack is the number-one cause of on-thejob deaths of firemen. Seventy-six percent of all firemen over the age of 55 die of heart disease. It’s because of these biological weapons of mass destruction that are flooding the firehouses: doughnuts, cookies, crackers, lunch meats, hot dogs, greasy food, and fast food. And of course, it’s not just firemen; I see people every day, suffering from heart attacks and strokes, and the saddest part is knowing it didn’t have to happen. “We are literally digging our

sometimes five to ten times the amount of saturated fats as other animal foods. Add to that all the trans-fats from the processed foods and the plant foods we process into oils. Instead of eating the corn and the olives, we remove all the nutrients that were in the original food and just eat the oil from them. Any grains we eat are stripped from the fiber and bran parts. We mostly eat the white part—the caloric portion. Then we load everything with salt, raising our blood pressure to dangerous highs. We couldn’t design a diet style to kill off more people if

“Heart attack is the number-one cause of on-the-job deaths of firemen. Seventy-six percent of all firemen over the age of 55 die of heart disease. It’s because of these biological weapons of mass destruction that are flooding the firehouses: doughnuts, cookies, crackers, lunch meats, hot dogs, greasy food, and fast food. And of course, it’s not just firemen; I see people every day, suffering from heart attacks and strokes, and the saddest part is knowing it didn’t have to happen.”

we had planned it from scratch!” But there is hope, my friends. People like Robert of Northern Virginia are beginning to get the message. And they are learning, like he did, that doing something as simple as changing their diet can actually change their life. ROBERT’S STORY Robert knew that heart disease ran in his family; he had witnessed it many times over the years. So it came as no great surprise when he received the disappointing results of his blood test

during his yearly physical. “The test came back with my levels fairly high,” he says. “My cholesterol was 256 and my triglycerides were 266.” So what does a person do when he finds out he has symptoms of the numberone killer in America? “My physician suggested I change my lifestyle, but he didn’t offer much guidance on how to do it,” Robert remembers. “He just handed me five or six pages of good foods and bad foods and basically made the suggestion that I do something to reduce my cholesterol. No plan, no defined goal.” Without a clear objective, Roberts wasn’t inclined to do much about it. Fortunately, Robert had chosen to visit another doctor specialized in a healthy diet. “He presented me with a plan that said if I participate in this diet for six weeks I should be able to reduce my cholesterol by as much as 30 percent. It sounded good to me,” says Robert. “It was a defined plan that I could follow. The basic goal of this diet was to stop eating foods that come from

something that had a face; this included meat, fish, cheeses, yogurt, and eggs. I increased my amount of vegetables and fruits by over 50 percent. I ate beans, nuts, grains, vegetables and fruits; and I stopped eating so much sugar. 1 didn’t have dsserts which I really loved— I ate fruit instead. I also used flax seed and flax oil on my salads and other foods. Once in a while, l’d have cooked vegetables, but basically I concentrated on raw vegetables.” Robert also began an exercise program, doing 30 to 60, minutes a day of cardiovascular exercise. The results of these simple diet changes were absolutely amazing to Robert and his doctor. Within five weeks, he had another cholesterol test. “My cholesterol had reduced from 256 to 178, which is a 30-percent decrease. My triglycerid dropped from 266 to 156, which was also a 30percent reduce. Robert’s doctor could hardly believe it. Another bonus of Robert’s new diet was losing 20 pounds of unwanted weight. “That turned out to be a real plus, except my clothes didn’t fit too well anymore,” he jokes. “But it’s given me the chance to tell others about The Hallelujah Diet. Peop1e ask me quite often how I was able to lose so much short weight in such a short amount of time. Whenever I have the opportunity, I tell that good news about how it worked for me.” Today, a toxic food environment surrounds Americans and, as Robert found out, it does take a conscious effort to get away from it. Caldwell B. Esseistyn, Jr., M.D. reminds us: It is delicious, colorful, tasteful, addicting, omnipresent, and highly advertised. It comes in boxes, bags, bottles, cans, or is available in an instant, wrapped as fish, chicken, and meat. At the most caring, memorable, and emotional events—birthdays, weddings, funerals, and holidays—the food business becomes richer and our health poorer. Milk mustaches from Michael Jordan to Larry King to Donna Shalala—what are we telling the American public? Nevertheless, there is good news; lowering cholesterol and maintaining it below 150 mg/dl eliminates progression of coronary artery disease and achieves selective regression.”

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Child Health And You

Re-Emphasising The Importance Of Breast-Feeding

BREAST feeding is best for your baby, and the benefits of breastfeeding extends well beyond basic nutrition. In addition to containing all the vitamins and nutrients your baby need in the first six months of life. Breast milk is packed with disease - fighting substance that protect your baby from illness. That is one reason the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months (although any amount of breastfeeding is beneficial). And scientist studies show that beast feeding is good for your health too. Numerous studies from around the world have shown that stomarch visuses, lower respiration illness, ear infection and meningitis occur less often in breastfeed babies and are less severe when they do happen. Exclusive breast feeding without solid food, formula or water for at least six months seems to offer the most protection. One large study by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences showed that children who are breastfeed have 20 percent lower risk of dying between 28 days and 1 year than children who weren’t breastfeed, with longer breastfeeding associated with lower risk. The main immune factor at work here is a substance called Secretory Immunogiobulin A(IgA) that present in large amount in colostrums, the first milk your body producers for your baby (Secretory IgA is present in lower concentration in mature breast milk). The substance guards against invaling germs by forming a protective layer on the mucous membranes in your baby’s intestine, nose and throat. Your breast milk is specially

tailored to your baby, your body responds to pathogen (virus and bacteria) that in your body and makes Secretory IgA that is specific to those pathogen, creating protection for your baby based on whatever you exposed to. Breastfeeding may also help children avoid a host of diseases that strike later in life such as type 1 and 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and inflammatory bowel diseases. In fact, preemies given breast milk as babies are less likely to have high blood pressure by the time they are teenagers. Babies who are fed a formula based on cow’s milk or soy tend to have more allergic reactions than breastfed babies. Some other reason why breastfeeding is very important is that, it is always at the right temperature, clean and free. No bottles to clean and breastfeeding has no waste. Moreso, it supply all the necessary nutrients in the proportions. It protects against allergies, sickness and obesity, also protect against diseases like diabetes and cancer. breast feeding against infection like ear infection. Breast milk is easily digested – no constipation, diarrhea or upset stomarch. Baby have healthier weight as they grow. Breast milk changes constantly to meet babies needs. Breast milk can reduce your stress level and your risk of postpartum depression, it boost your child intelligence and protect your baby from long lists of illness. The most amazing aspect of breast milk is that it is actually live. It is not a consistence body fluid such as blood, it is a secretion of the mammary gland and it is

By OMOREGIE OSARO DENNIS

constantly changing it composition, dependent of course, on the interaction with the body. Scientists think immune factors such as Secretory IgA (only available in breast milk) help prevent allergic reactions to food by providing a layer of protection to a baby’s

inflammation, allergies, and other eventual health issues. It is very important to provide your babies with all the milk needed, there are at times when babies don’t get enough. And when this situation is not addressed, such baby can suffer from dehydration and failure to thrive, both of which are

intestinal trait. Without this protection, inflammation can develop and the wall of the intestine can become “leaky”. This allow undigested proteins to cross the gut where they can course an allergic reactions and other health problems. Babies who are fed formula, rather than breast milk don’t get this layer of protection, so they are more vunerable to

uncommon but serious. Breast milk changes constantly to meet babies need. Breast milk is always ready and good for the environment. Breast milk is widely acknowledge as the complete form of nutrition for infants because they are fragile and susceptible to disease, partly because their bodies studies have demonstrated a number of

“Breast milk can reduce your stress level and your risk of postpartum depression, it boost your child intelligence and protect your baby from long lists of illness.”

important health benefits to breastfeeding. It has been generally accepted that breast milk is the best food for infants. There is really no substitute from any other commercial milk products that can compare with the many health benefits breast milk can give. It is very important for all new born babies to have at

least comsumed natural milk even from short period of time from their mother as much as possible. The importance of breast milk can not be over emphasized, as it contains natural vitamins and minerals such as carbohydrates, facts, protein and essential nutrients. These nutrients are combined in the right proportions to suits the infants need. Human milk is also easy to digest and absorbed by the body. Infants mothers milk gives them the right immunisation system that contain antibodies which fight against harmful viruses and bacteria. It helps the body to developes resistance against respiratory infections, oral thrush, diarrhea and other common infants illness.

Break milk helps the infants grows normally because of a certain growth factor that are known properties of milk. Natural milk improves and fasten the maturation of the baby’s organ system which include respiratory gastrointestinal and hormonal system. This properties helps the infants to adopt conveniently into it environment. The oral mechanics of breast feeding helps developes and strengthen the infants teeth – palate jaws and facial

muscles. These development will prevent any malocclusion and highly contributes to better speech as the baby grows. According to Mrs. Tracy Osaro, a mother said she believes that breastfeeding a baby has a huge advantage as it makes the baby to feel more relaxed an sleep fine, most especially immediately after breastfeeding the baby. Mrs. Amoye Juliet said experience had thought her that breast feeding makes a baby to look healthy when compared to a baby who feed on formula milk. She added that some of the formula are not up to standard, that the best food for infant is the natural breast milk from a mother to a child.

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Midweek Magazine

THERE are many definitions of women empowerment. To some persons it is the process of strengthening the existing capacities and capabilities of disadvantaged groups in society so as to enable them perform towards improving themselves, their families and the society as a whole. It involves the provision of enabling environment for their productive and intellectual abilities to be realized. In some societies where some groups have suffered discrimination for a long time, ways have been found to address this problem. Laws have been made to protect these groups against future discrimination with the goal of providing equal opportunities for all. When Empowerment is viewed as a process of enabling women to develop the capacity to actualize their potentials…That women should be looked at as individuals but possess some hidden potentials for greatness and so should be encouraged to develop such to the fullest. Women are the fundamental human reservoir of every society. In the traditional societies of Africa and Asia; woman represent the most essential ingredient in the formation of that all important biosocial group known as the family. Women in most societies, whether developed or developing, are regarded as currency with which political and economic alliances are cemented. This in social anthropology. The transfer of women between lineages and clans is regarded as a medium of communication more potent and clearest than language itself. As agents of procreation

Empowering Nigerian Wome and child rearing, women are the recognized agency for the extention and coutinuation of the human specie through the generations. The industrial revolution in England and other parts of the western world in the 18th century drastically altered the primary role of women in the society. Women henceforth could be seen playing roles hitherto regarded as the exclusive reserves of men in the economic, political and social lives of the society. In the African setting, women have played the role of bread winners and decision – makers in many families in the event of the demise of the father of the house or inadequate male presence. This absence which could be brought about by death, sickness, old age or other forms of physical and mental incapacitation have thrust women in the centre stage for the performance of functions far removed from the traditional responsibility of house keeping. In Nigeria today, the women folk have come a long way, in business, politics, education, sports and the professions. Women have made an indelible mark in their effort to conq uer the limitations of the past which have sought to place them permanently in the kitchen and bedroom. Be the above as it may, it is not all through a bed of roses for women and their empowerment. The above illustration is just about the infinitesimal few number of women who have been able to excel in their endeavours through their own dinct of hard work. The majority of women in Africa, Asia, and

By GLORIA ONI/LAWRENCE OMORODION/JENNIFER OWOBU even Europe and America have not been fully mobilized and empowered to contribute to national development. If it had been so, we would not have been talking about health for women, educational, economic, social cultural and political empowerment for women. And in all its ramifications, women would not have been segregated and discriminated against so much so that they are sexually tortured and harassed in their seeking for employment, contrasts, political positions and in other endeavours. In as much as this article will present a review on the dehumanizing and traumatizing conditions of women, it will go further to take a detailed and critical look at the major indices of woman participation in national development, vis-àvis political, economic and educational considerations. How far has the Nigerian woman achieved self actualization in the above areas? What are the major handicaps and challenges of women, and what more could be done to secure a better leverage of Nigerian women if they are to participate effectively, fully and more meaningful in the development of the Nigerian nation. In this 21st century? Women: Nature and conditions Women, described as the feminine gender are created by God for procreation and

continuity. Unfortunately, they have been dehumanized and traumatized in so many ways. Of the 1.3 billion

know how to read and write. Poverty is not having a job, is fear for the future, living for just one day at a time. Poverty is loosing a child to illness brought about by unclean water. Poverty is powerlessness, lack of representation and freedom.

status positions. Women own less than 1 percents of the world’s property. Where laws and customs prevent women from owning land or other production assets, from getting loans or credit or from having the right to

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo - Iweala, Finance Minister

people who lived in abject poverty around the globe, 70 percent are women. For these women, poverty doesn’t just mean scarcity and want. It means rights denied, opportunities curtailed and voices silenced. According to Abraham (2006) poverty is hunger. Poverty is lack of shelter. Poverty is being sick and not being able to see a doctor. Poverty is lack not being to go to school and

“Women are the fundamental human reservoir of every society. In the traditional societies of Africa and Asia; woman represent the most essential ingredient in the formation of that all important bio-social group known as the family.”

All these are majority encountered and faced by women. Women work two – third of the world’s working hours, according to the United Nation Millennium Campaign (Abraham 2006) to have world poverty by he year 2015. The overwhelming majority of the labour that sustain life growing food, cooking, raising children, carrying for the early, maintaining house, hauling water is by women, and universally this work is accorded low status and no pay. The ceaseless cycle of labour rarely shows up in economic analysis of a society’s production and value. Women earn only 10 percent of the world’s income. Where women work for money. They may be limited to a set of jobs deemed suitable for women – invariably low pay, low

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inheritance or to own their home, they have no assets leverage for economic stability and cannot invest in their own or their children’s future. Women make up twothirds of the estimated 876 million adults world wide who cannot read or write, and girls make up 60 percent of the 77 million children not attending primary school. Education is among the most important drivers of human development. Women who are educated have fewer children than those who are denied schooling. They delay their first pregnancies, have healthier children. Each additional year of schooling a woman has is associated with a 5-10 percent decline in child deaths, according to the United Nations population fund (2010), and are far more likely to send their

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THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Midweek Magazine

en Towards Development

wn children to school. Yet where women do not ave the discretionary ncome to invest in their own r their children’s education, where girl’s education is onsidered frivolous, and where girl’s are relied on to ontribute labour to the

women’s lifetime chance of dying in child birth is one in seven, while in the United States it is one in 3,418 and in Norway and Switzerland, one in 7,300. In any given year, 15 percent of all pregnant women will face a life

appreciate impact in their contribution to their contributions to the development of the development of the Nigerian nation. It is indeed necessary to have presented how these women have been dehumanized and

lison Madueke, Petroleum Minister

ousehold, they miss this nparallel opportunity to evelop their minds and pirits. Their country suffer oo. Compared to similar ountries where the girls hild has greater access to uality basic education. In many societies around he world, women never elong wholly to hemselves, they are the roperty of others through ut their life. Their physical well-being-health, security nd bodily integrity, is often eyond heir own control. Where women have no ontrol over money, they annot choose to get health are for themselves or their hildren. Where child earing may be the only market of value available to women frequent pregnancy nd labour can be deadly. World Health Organization 2008) data indicate that in Afganistan and Siera Leone

threatening complication, and more than 500,000.99 percent of them in the developing world will die some 130 million girls and women, mostly in subSahara Africa have been subjected to genital cutting or mutilation at the behest of their parents, and 2 million more face the blade every year, according to the United Nation Population Fund (2010). Around the globe, home and community are not safe havens for a billion girls and women. At least one in three females on earth has been physically assaulted or sexually abused, often repeatedly and often by a relative or acquaintance. P O L I T I C A L AWARENESS AND PARTICIPATION Though it has been observed that Nigerian women have made some

traumatized. This is imperative because this writer does not want to create any impression that it has been a bed of roses for Nigerian women and indeed other women in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The active participation of a large number of women in the political for a is strangely a new phenomenon. Although in the past, Nigeria has seen amazons like Margaret Ekpo, Fumilayo Ramsome Kuti, Madam Tinubu of Lagos and a handful of other activist,

women have often been relegated to the background in national politics. This situation however seem to be changing as women are now making serious and appreciable impact in the political life of the country, especially since the 2005 Berjin conference and women affirmative position (Aweh, 2006). The lateness of Nigerian women into Nigerian political arena has been blamed on the deliberate colonial policy of undermining the political zeal of Nigerian women. (Coleman 2007), argued that the effort of women were violently disrupted by the colonial experience. Women seemed to be the most hard hit, for with their Western pre-conception of female inferiority the colonial administrators tended to relegate women to the background of irrelevance in the scheme of governance. It is instructive to note at this point that in the last forty to fifty years, Nigerian women have created a noticeable impact in the political life of the nation. In the traditional African Society, several factors combined to relegated women to the second fiddle role and participation in national affairs. Such factors include cultural placements, religious belief systems and traditional prejudies. Despite these serious handicaps or impediments which are actively exploited by the men folk, Nigerian women have been seen to break even, such that today have become a force to reckon with in the development process of the nation. During the second Republic (1979-83) Nigeria had her first female senator in the person of Mrs. Franca

Afegbua. In the fourth Republic (1999-2004) three women were elected into the senate while fifteen got elected into the House of Representatives. The fourth Republic has been a period of re-awakening for Nigerian women both in terms of elected offices and political appointments. During the civilian government of Obasanjo, women were accommodated and placed in areas of intense visibility as they held important and prominent positions. The ministries of Aviation and Transport were headed by women. The Minister of State for Science and Technology and the sensitive Ministry of Defence were also women. These women were able to prove that they possess the quality, talents and character traits required not only for the growth of the nation but for the enhancement of the progress and well-being of the human society in general. Today, many women occupy elective and appointive positions. Women are indeed making their mark in the political affairs of the Nigerian nation. BUSINESS AND ECONOMY Perhaps, the most eloquent statement for the pivotal role women have played and are still playing in the 50 years of Nigeria’s independence is the appointment of Ndii Okereke Onyuike as managing Director of the Nigeria Stock Exchange. Not only she is the first Nigerian women to tower above thousands of well qualified men to clinch this most powerful positions in Nigeria’s economic and financial establishment; she is an embodiment of the traditional doggedness and fierce determination of the

Nigerian woman not to be swept aside most especially in the affairs of the nation. The above statement, though flamboyant and glamorous is an eloquent testimony to the pivotal role the feminine gender is now playing in the development of the Nigerian economy. It is indeed a remarkable feat for a woman to preside “ at the second largest and most dynamic stock exchange in Africa.” Njoke (2006) strongly felt that Nigeria today can boast of “a rich history of women achievers.” This write-opposites that right from the pre-colonial times, Nigerian women have battled their way to recognition in Nigeria. They have been able to work a very tight rope in a society that is still very traditional and create a balance between the traditional role of woman in an African society and gaining empowerment wield influence rather than sub ordinate to the role of their male counterparts. Women have made significant contributions in terms of manpower resources and general economic returns at various levels to the economic development of the nation. In fact, Nigerian women have shown remarkable zeal and strewdness in the economic development of the nation. EDUCATION AND PREFESSIONS Women have since independence attained Olympian heights in the administrative hierarchy and academic institutions of the country. Grace Alele Williams (Prof) blazed the trail as the first Nigerian women to occupy the office of Vice Chancellor in a Nigerian University (University of Benin). Jade Sola Akande and Laraba Abdulahi also attained in the same status in university administration.

“During the civilian government of Obasanjo, women were accommodated and placed in areas of intense visibility as they held important and prominent positions. The ministries of Aviation and Transport were headed by women.”

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Security Issues

Youth Restiveness:

Operation Disarm To The Rescue

“The Gospel, Rather Than The Firing Squad, Is What Will Save Nigerian Youths” WITH over 5000 Nigerian youths ministered to and out of this number, hundred having turning to Christ, the Operation Disarm Word Evangelical Ministry is no longer a strange name in these environs and even beyond. The ministry came into being following the vision of Evangelist Dr. (Mrs.) Helen Ugochukwu on July 26, 2005, and by “divine revelation” she was directed to reach out to the youth and the general public who are into cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping, assassinations and terrorism, amongst others, to deliver them back to Christ, “their original and only source of creation”. With the clear vision of “bringing all who are prepared to yield to the lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ to the working of the Holy Spirit proclaiming the power of the Holy Ghost and breaking all yokes, delivering people from satanic bondage, releasing oppressed people from the pangs of demonic oppression such as death, sickness, diseases, spiritual attack and other forms of oppression and suppression, the ministry has since not rested, setting the oppressed free through knowledge of the word of God and bringing many into the total knowledge of God “in order to appropriate his promises to deliver and to save”. One can go on and on to reel out the mission statements of the Operation Disarm Word Evangelical Ministry. For years, the Evangelist in company of a team of trumpeters have been trudging the length and breadth of various communities in Edo State, including citadels of learning, preaching the gospel of Christ to the world, especially to the youth who may have found themselves neck deep into cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping, assassination terrorism and other social vices, saving the lost souls of the youth for Jesus Christ as well as empowering and transforming their lives, distributing printed and published religious literature that had imprints of soul-winning words, carrying out campaigns/crusades through the media, both print and electronic, sensitizing the people on the dangers and evil of those enumerated social vices. As the yuletide approaches, the ministry is not resting on its oars. Evangelist Dr. (Mrs) Helen Ugochukwu and her team of Trumpeters are on their feet, asking youths

She expressed her pain at seeming youths paraded and even shot down for one offense or the other. “Anytime I watch the television or read the papers and see bodies of youths cut down in their prime in the line of fire between suspects and the law enforcement agencies. I weep in my spirit. My spirit is depressed. These are young persons who tomorrow may become the leaders that we all crave for, these are fine young stars who may become pioneers of noble acts and laudable projects, scientists, artistes, inventors, manufactures professionals in various fields of human endeavour. It is quite so unfortunate that these youths should waste to the glory of the devil. Evangelist Dr. (Mrs) Ugochukwu also threw caution to the law enforcement agencies.

Evang Dr (Mrs) Helen Ugochukwu innocent citizens by assisting them to see how useless those weapons of destruction are to their physical development help them actualise their potentials through various forms of empowerment and squarely bring them to Christ and be attuned to God’s will for their lives she also admonished leaders at all tiers – federal, state and local to critically address issues of youth restiveness, joblessness and non-inclusion in leadership positions in the polity with a view to ensuring good foundational footing for Nigeria youths. “We want to see the industrialization of Nigeria and the placing of youths in strategic positions. This constant over hauling of old men and women in the

Evang Dr Mrs Helen Ugochukwu

“I know that in the line of fire anything can happen, and the security agencies have the right to defend their lives in the event of gun battle between them and suspects, but I appeal for restraint where it is absolutely

“As the yuletide approaches, the ministry is not resting on its oars. Evangelist Dr. (Mrs) Helen Ugochukwu and her team of Trumpeters are on their feet, asking youths to drop their arms and pick up the instrumentality of the Holy Ghost.” to drop their arms and pick up the instrumentality of the Holy Ghost. “I admonish the youths to look up to Jesus, the author and finisher of their faiths, the one who made them in the image and likeness of good. They should drop their arms, desist from those social vices which gains are transient and embrace Christ whose grace transcends every boundary the Evangelist told our Principal Features writer, Ijeoma Umeh.

necessary. We must all team up to save the youths, to give them another opportunity to make amends with both God and man and to actualise their God given potentials. On the modes of operation of her ministry, she stated, “the mode is both spiritual and physical, deal with the physical issue of the youths constituting themselves as vagabonds in the society, unleashing terror on

polity should stop. “That is the anger of the youths”. As the yuletide approaches she admonished the youths to re-think and have change of hearts in the evil machineries they have put in place with which to unleash mayhem on the society. “They should consider the lives of youths who are constantly paraded on crime fighters where are those ones today many have faced the firing squad or killed secretly by their accusers, offer the law enforcement agents won’t even have wind of it. I advice them to create role models in their minds of people like Bill Gates, Dangote Mrs. Clinton Barack Obama, and all others who continue to shine without engaging in evil practices. It is my wish to see youths who will take up the leadership of our nation in various fronts. The celebrations will be over, but your life should remain. This is not the first time that we will be celebrating the yuletide. It will come and go. Re-think your life, refocus, reconsider what path you are taking forget about world goods the exotic cars, houses, beautiful women, expensive wine. They are all transient goods. They won’t survive eternity. Please, consider your spiritual stand with God.

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

A]. INTRODUCTION y

Tangent to y = f(x) at point p.

p Normal to y = f(x) at point p.

tangent is y - y1 = f /(x)(x - x1), where x1 = 2 at y1 is not known. So to get y1 substitute x = 2 into the given eguation to get y = (3 x 22) - (2 x 2) +3 or y = 12 - 4 + 3 = 11

Mathematics With Stanley Osobase 08023454887 Osobase2001@yahoo.co.uk

Equations Of Tangents And Normals From the diagram above, we see that a tangent is a line segment that touches a curve (or a circle) at one and and only one point. The line and curve must be in the same plane. The point (p) at which the line touches the circle is called the point of tangency. For a curve given by y = f(x), the gradient function is dy/dx or f /(x). We can find the value of dy/dx as well as the equation of the tangent, if the coordinates of a point on the curve are given. Thus given the coordinate point (x1,y1) the equation on the tangent on the cureve is

y - y1 = f /(x)(x - x1) . The normal to the curve at the point (x1, y1) on this curve is that line passing through this point. Perpendicular to the tangent to the curve. The dotted line on the diagram above shows. The gradient of the normal is given as 1 -1 = gradient of the function f /(x) -1 dy . The equation of the dx -1 (x - x1). normal is y - y1 = / f (x1) Lim -1 or y y = (x -x1). 1 x 2 m1 =

B]. APPLICATION EXAMPLES Example 1 Lim x Find 2 the equation of the tangent to the curve y = 3x2 - 2x + 3 at the pointwhere x = 2. Solution: Recall that equation of the

m = 2x - 4 becomes 2 x 0 - 4 = -4 :- (x1, y1) = (2, 11). :-Equation for the normal is Now, f (x) =dy/dx = derivative of y - y1 = m(x - x1) becomes y--12 given function to get 6x - 2. 1 :- Gradient of tangent at = (x - 0) 4 x = 2 is (6 x 2) - 2 = 10 1 Equation of tangent is or y + 12 = 4 x y - 11 = 10(x - 2) or 4y + 48 = x or 4y - x + 48 = 0 Answer or y - 11 = 10x - 20 or y = 10x - 9 (b). For the normal to meet the xor 10x - y - 5 = 0 Answer axis, we let y = 0 to get (4 x 0) - x + Example 2 48 = 0 or x = 48 Answer. The equation of the tangent to Example 4 the curve y = 2x3 - x2 + 1, at the point Find the equations of the (-1, -2) is tangent and normal to the curve Solution y = (x - x)(2 + x), at the point where From y = 2x3 - x2 + 1, x=2 dy/dx = 6x2 - 2x at point (-1, -2), Solution dy/dx which is the gradient Expanding the given equation or becomes 6(-1)2 - 2(-1) = 6 + 2 = 8 function y = (3 - x)(2 + x) becomes :- Equation of tangent y - y1 = m(x - y = 6 + x - x2 and dy = 1 - 2x x1) becomes y - (-2) = 8(x --1) dx or y + 2 = 8(x + 1) Where x = 2; y = +4. Thus, the or y + 2 = 8x + 8 coordinate point is (2, 4). Gradient of the tangent at the or 8x - y + 6 = 0 Answer point (2,4) = 1 - (2 x 2) = 1 - 4 = -3 Example 3 dy i.e. Substituting x = 2 into (a) Find the equation of the normal dx. 2 to the curve y = x - 4x - 12, at the point where the curve cuts the y-axis. :- Equation of the Tangent is y + 4 = -3(x - 2) (b). At what point does the normal meet or y + 4 = -3x + 6 the x - axis? (WAEC). or y + 3x + 4 - 6 = 0 Solution or y + 3x - 2 = 0 Answer From the function y = x2 - 4x - 12 :- Gradient of the normal at the point gradient = dy/dx = m = 2x - 4. At this point where the curve cuts is x = -3. :- The equation of the normal is y the y-axis means we let x = 0 in the 2 function y = x - 4x - 12 to become - 4 = 1/3 (x - 2) or 3y - 12 = -x + 2 y = 02 - (4 x 0) - 12 = -12. or 3y + x = 14 Answer Thus, with coordinate point (0, -12), Until next edition, remain blessed solving Maths. gradient = Remember to Watch EBS TV (Live), Thurs at 4Pm.

THE NIGERIAN

Motoring History Of Natural Gas As Fuel For Vehicles

THE idea of using natural gas as fuel for vehicles is not new, there has been natural gas vehicle market in Italy since 1930’s and there has been a rapid growth of natural gas vehicle market during the last 10 years. Natural gas is used as a vehicular fuel for 2 main reasons to use the local resources, thereby reducing the country’s dependence on imported oil, and to improve the air quality. The great challenge all countries have ahead is certainly the global warming. Recent reports indicate environmental problems and their consequences on the economies are becoming more and more evident. There is a strong indication that most of the countries will soon experience a slowdown in their economic growths, as a result of restrictions and limits imposed to lessen climatic change impact. All of these factors make it timely to consider the importance of natural gas as a transport fuel which is why many countries in the world are opting for Natural Gas as a most viable alternative vehicular fuel. As of now for Nigeria, vehicular emissions will he the secondary concern, but the country, which is very dependent on imported oil for its transport sector, can use existing gas resources in a CNG program. CNG CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES Petrol vehicles are the easiest types to convert to run on CNG. There are 2 types of kits: Carburetted kits for carburetted vehicles; and Sequential kits for electronic fuel injections vehicles, basically for the new generation cars. After conversion, the motorist will have the option of running the vehicle a hi-fuel vehicle (either on petrol on CNC and viceversa).

per unit energy available as compared to petrol and Diesel and hence the amount of carbon dioxide produced by a natural gas vehicle is much lower. FUELLING OF CNG VEHICLE Fuelling of a Natural Gas vehicle is done at a CNG Station. Natural gas from underground pipelines is compressed to high pressure, about 250 bar, at CNG Stations using compressors. The gas after compression is dispensed in to the vehicle cylinders through a dispensing unit. The dispenser measures the quantity of gas dispensed in to the vehicle, AUTO TIP ROAD RULES FOR MOTORISTS WHAT is the rule of traffic light? The correct sequences of traffic light are Red, Red and Am Green, Amber and Green Arrow. Red means stop and wait behind the stop line on the carriageway. Red and Amber also means (stop Don’t pass through or start until green shows. Green means I may go on if the way is clear. I will take special care if I am to turn right and give way to pedestrians who are crossing. Amber means half at the top line. I may only go on if the amber appears after I have crosses the top line or I am so close to the stop that a pull up might cause an accident. Green arrow means 1 may go in direction shown. WHERE NOT TO PARK • At a bus stop • Opposite another vehicle

Conversion of Heavy duty Diesel vehicles such as Trucks, Trailers, Buses etc including Diesel generators are technically possible and can be done in 2 different ways. First method is on dedicated basis where the diesel engine is convened to petrol engine. This is complex and expensive. Second method is on dual fuel basis, where the diesel system is retained. This is simpler and the vehicle will run either in Diesel alone or on dual fuel (CNG) +Diesel). On dual fuel, over 50% of diesel is substituted by CNG, Dedicated CNG Buses, Trucks, Garbage trucks are being made available by leading bus manufacturers such as Daewoo, Hyunddai, Marcopolo, Mercedez, Volvo, Iveco, Foton, Tata, Ashok Leyland and others. SAFETY ASPECTS OF CNG Natural Gas is a safer fuel than most conventional liquid fuels, for reasons associated with natural gas’s ignition, dispersion and burning characteristics and its low toxicity. Natural gas is distinguished by its narrow and higher flammability range. Petrol and Diesel have flammability limits ranging from a lower limit between 0.5 to 2% and to an upper limit between 7.6 to 10% in air. Natural gas will not burn in concentrations below 5% or above 15% when mixed with air. The greater dispersion characteristics of natural gas reduce the likelihood of these concentrations being achieved. Natural Gas is buoyant in air, so it will move rapidly upwards it released, liquid their by contrast, form ground hugging vapour layers and pools at the scene of an accident which pose significant localised safety hazard. Carcinogenic and irritant properties relating to skin contact and inhalation of fumes have been identified in liquid fuels; natural gas has no such properties. Carbon dioxide is an unavoidable by-product of hydrocarbon fuel combustion and is the main contributor to the increase in global warming. Natural gas primarily consists of methane (over 5%) and is inherently a clean burning fuel. it has carbon

• On a bow of bill • Where it will obstruct a traffic sign . • Near a read junction, corner, or bend WHEN YOU HAVE A BREAK DOWN Do not leave the vehicle in the middle of the road or where it can cause obstruction Tow or push it into grass verge Place a reflective triangle at about 10-20 metre from the vehicle when in the city or 30 metre away on the highway. One hundred metres will be adequate on the expressway. Do not lifter the road with debris of tyre and broken logs and put a lighten lamp on the vehicle at night. WHEN DRIVING THROUGH TOWNS • Reduced speed • Watch out for animals • Children and some adult who may be crossing the road carelessly • Obey the prescribed speed limit in towns and cities WHEN DRIVING WITHIN A TOWN • Give enough clearance for Car doors when you over take a stationary vehicle at a bus stop. · Obey the crossing • Watch out for children at the Zebra Crossing AVOIDING COLLUSION AT ROUNDABOUT • Be watchful • Don’t assume field of way either to the left or right • Give way to traffic on your left don’t change lanes indiscriminately • Trafficate your exit (turning) on time • Maintain your exit lane in good time • Never face traffic round about • The condition of the driver that could affect his/her driving ability vision • Poor vision can impair driving ability. 6. Front spring broken

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

With Osagie Aifuwa

7. Worn steering connections 8. Lining of different types or grades fitted Solutions: I. Clean oil or brake fluid off one of the affected brake 2. Replace distorted brake drum 3. Check and inflate tyres to correct pressure 4. Tighten loose back plate 5. Tighten loose bolts 6. Replace broken front spring 7. Replace worn connection 8. Fix lining of correct grade

Drive With Care! Understanding Car Braking System. Brake Problems and Solutions Symptom; Excessive brake pedal travel Problems: I - Low fluid level in reservoir 2. Excessive clearance between lining and drum 3. Excessive push-rod clearance 4. Air in the system 5. Leak in system 6. Cracked breakdrum Solutions: I. Top-up the reservoir with hydraulic fluid 2. Correct lining and drum clearance 3. Correct push-rod clearance 4. Bleed the system to remove air 5. Rectify the leakage in the system 6. Replace brake drum Symptom: brake pedal feels hard Problems: 1. Seized piston in the wheel cylinder 2. Oil or brake fluid on linings 3. Blinding brake pedal Solutions: I. Free piston in the wheel cylinder 2. Clean off oil or brake fluid from the linings 3. Free brake pedal Symptom: Brake pedal feels springy Problems: I. Low fluid level in reservoir 2. Air in system 3. Defective hose expanding under pressure 4. Master cylinder main cup worn 5. Leak past master cylinder main cup Solutions: 1. Top-up the reservoir with hydraulic fluid 2. Bleed the system to remove air 3. Replace hose 4. Replace master cylinder worn cap 5. Rectify leakage at the master cylinder Symptom: Brake pedal feels springy Problems: 1. lining not bedded-in 2. brake drums cracked 3. Master cylinder loose on its mountings Solutions: 1. Bed lining in 2. Replace cracked brake drum 3. Secure master cylinder on its mounting Symptom: Brake grap. Problems: 1. Linings not bedded-in 2. Wrong type of lining 3. Oil or brake fluid on lining 4. Loose back plate Solutions: 1. Bed-in lining properly 2. Use correct linings 3. Clean oil or brake fluid from linings 4. Secure back plate firmly Symptom: Braking is unbalanced. Problems: 1. Oil or brake fluid on linings of one brake 2. Distorted brake drums 3. Tyres unevenly inflated 4. Back plate loose on the axle 5. Bolts connecting axle to road springs loose

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Spirituality Lessons From The Lives Of Saints: BUT how could she be a saint? She was rejected from a convent for bad health, she spoke with a thick Italian accent in her adopted land, she traveled all over to found schools, hospitals, orphanages and other social institutions, she was a U.S. citizen and she drank wine!!! Mother Cabrini, as she is popularly known, came from peasant stock - the sturdy stock -the sturdy life blood of every country. A little farm girl who had very pious parents but who had to work on the farm, especially after her father died. But she did manage to get somewhat of an education and when she sought admission in a Convent, they told her she wasn’t healthy enough; they didn’t want to accept a candidate who would be sickly and a liability. She did manage an education before her parents died; actually at the age of eighteen she finished the equivalent of our high school, took the exam for a teaching license and passed. This was the key to her future. First her father died and that left the running of the farm to her mother and the children; then her mother died and soon after her crippled sister, Maddalena; and so the three children were on their own. Frances was twenty-two. A mile from her home was a small town and the pastor of the parish wa4 a family friend. The teacher in his school was ill and he asked Frances to substitute; she stayed two years! Again she sought entrance in a convent she applied to two and both turned her down. Another priest friend then asked her to help out in an orphanage where there was trouble with the directress - it was an orphanage for girls. While life there was extremely difficult, she made friends with some of the orphan girls. For three years she took the abuse of the directress, then at the age of twenty-seven, she and seven of the orphan girls made their vows: The Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart were born - it was September 14, 1877 Francesca (Frances) was on the road. For three more years she endured the ill-tempered directress - finally the Bishop founded a new orphanage and Mother Cabrini and her seven sisters in Christ started on their own - their first foundation. The worth of Mother Cabrini was soon evident and other priests asked her to start schools and orphanages. In seven years, she made as many new foundations. More girls had entered and so Frances

sought for stability. In a dream, she saw Christ who said to her. ‘Go to that ground where they crucified Peter - Rome is your portal.” The Bishop and priest friends advised against it. Rome was having much trouble - the Papal States had been seized by the Italian liberals, most of whom were anti-clerical and the Pope had become the ‘prisoner of the Vatican’. With the determination that was to characterize her all through her life, she went and sought Papal approval of her order. At first a refusal - she was not ‘practical” and she stayed on in Rome and knocked on every available door. This went on for a month, then finally the Cardinal Vicar of Rome agreed - with the approval, a request to found two houses in Rome!! Her Order was recognized. Now her fulfillment missionaries to the Orient. She had dreamed of her sisters going to foreign lands where they could work with pagans. But such was not to be. She was asked to found an orphanage for Italian children in New York, but she refused, It was the Orient where her eyes were set. Then in an audience with the great Pope, Leo XIII, he asked her to go to America: “Francesca Cabrini, go to America. Plant there and cultivate the beautiful fruit of Christ.” Here was an immigrant saint going to work among immigrants. For two decades. Italian labor was solicited for the New World. Italy held no promise for the poor - here was a land of opportunity. So, many went, hoping to make enough money to eventually send for their families and have a better life. But the New World was not all that easy. Those who came were poor, spoke no English and had no education. They were just raw labor and used as such. They clung together for some type of fraternity - but they were lost in this foreign land; even the priests they met couldn’t speak their language. These were the days before safety regulations and union protection, the days of child labor and sweat shops. The toll was taken on these foreign laborers and many children were orphaned -who would care for them? For this, Mother Cabrini came to New York. The lower East side of New York was Little Italy” and it was here that she started. Soon she had enough funds for an orphanage. To finance the orphanage meant begging and

St Frances Xavier

By MARIA DITTAMI

working long hours, but it meant acceptance by all and success. Success came in a strange way. Some of the elite complained about the orphanage being so close to their nice homes - and Francesca would prefer the country anyhow. In Peekskill, the Jesuits had a large estate no longer practical for them they would sell - she would buy, “at a bargain of course.” No real estate man was a wiser shopper for land. She did get

sights on a piece of land. Invariably, this was where the future of the city would go and the land became valuable. Also interesting was how she learned English - she would read the Italian paper and the corresponding story in an American paper and so she learned English though till her death she spoke with an accent. But she did not test on her laurels - a foundation in Nicaragua, then New Orleans, then other cities where there

begun houses with less, with no more than the price of a loaf of bread and prayers; for with him who comforts me, I can do anything.” When she remodeled the hotel she bought in Chicago to be Columbus Hospital, the contractors cheated her roundly what would a nun know, a foreigner at that - they were fooled by her Italian accent! How they found out! She checked, called in engineers and summoned the contractors to a lawyer ’s office. Still, they hoped to get

Cabrini

away with their fraud by questioning her authority. “Lady, just who are you?” they said smugly. Out came a paper signed by Pope Leo XIII to Mother Cabrini, Superior General of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. This was one foreigner they couldn’t outtalk. And how shrewd she was in dealing with people! One time in New Orleans, she went to a wealthy Italian and asked him to come to visit her orphanage that was rickety and crowded. His heart was moved and he promised to erect a new orphanage in his generous mood. She went back the next day and had him sign a contract! “First, I will retire his generous soul by assuring him of some high decoration from Pope Pius X. Then I shall direct his hand to sign with pen and ink an ironclad contract before a lawyer, holding him irrevocably to his promise for the good life of his soul.” How wise! Some Italian liberals

strength was Spent. She had traveled all over founding houses - Italy, France, England, Spain, Argentina, Brazil and the U.S.. By the time she came to die, there were sixty-five houses and fifteen-hundred nuns! The delicate little girl who was. refused entrance in two orders of nuns. The little immigrant who could out-talk bishops, contractors and city officials. A shrewd business woman who could even act as a Contractor to build a building. A brave soul who would approach the great’ of the land - Catholic, Protestant or Jew and successfully win their support and contributions. The foreigner who loved America enough to become a citizen. This is Mother Cabrini, great because she and the Sacred Heart could do everything. She died in Chicago just a few days before Christmas 1917, the immigrant who is the United States’ first canonized saint.

badgered the man and sought to get him to renege - but she was too smart for that. One of the liberals himself went to coerce her; and when he returned in failure, he said: “Little Mother Cabrini, who seems mild as a dove, stormed at me with the mien of a lion you just do not fool with this woman Cabrini.” By 1917 - Mother Cabrini was now sixty-seven, her

St Frances the estate, and for a bargain too, and her orphans were moved to the country. It was also a novitiate for her sisters; many girls joined and her Order grew by leaps and bounds. Of course, there were miracles in her life. One of the nicest has to do with the purchase of this big estate oh the Hudson at Peekskill from they Jesuits. They sold because there was no available water on the property (water systems were not yet established) and they told her about the lack of water. But undaunted and trusting in the Lord, she tramped over the property and at a certain spot she said, “Dig here! and abundant water was found. Strange, but interesting, how this little immigrant nun bought her houses. She would be asked to found a house in a city. She would go there, walk all over town and see what was available. Then, after having tramped the length and breath of the city, she would settle her

were Italian colonies. But the problem was more than the care of children - where did the immigrants go for medical treatment They could not speak the language; they had no money to pay. So Mother Cabrini, with no hospital experience, founded a hospital and had her sisters trained as nurses to care for the poor immigrants. First, Columbus Hospital in New York; then a hospital in Chicago and Seattle. Her group grew by leaps and bounds - in twelve years of existence, there were fourteen houses and twohundred nuns Any US corporation would have been glad to have her at the helm. She set goals that all said were impossible and, oddly enough, achieved them. When she told Archbishop Quigley in Chicago she was going to start a hospital with $1000, he laughed kindly at her and asked her if she knew how much she really needed. She nodded. ”Surely I know, but to start is to win. I have

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Health Issues

HIV/AIDS: POVERTY is on the increase in the society due to unemployment. The youths are jobless, after sweating hard for years to attain educational heights. Youths who are between ages 18 and 25 will tell you that they are in a steady relationship usually known and identified by them as courtship; that they are “studying” each other in case marriage becomes necessary or not. But in the long run during this period, certain things happen; like in most cases sleeping together and having sex with the opposite sex. Most times, there is no protection, because they so much trust each other, forgetting what the Bible says that “he that is trusting in his heart is stupid”, rather than trusting your partner by using your body “skin to skin”, be on the safer side by using condom, which will not only save you from contracting sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS and others, but will also save you from unwanted pregnancy because your partner might have other girl friends or boyfriends. Bringing unwanted children to life to cause nuisance along the way without being ready to care for them is sinful and criminal. More so, in Nigeria, in parts of Niger Delta according to sources in Warri and Benin City the spread of HIV/AIDS is on the increase in the cities, considering that most ladies can sleep with men for 10,000 naira without using a condom, not knowing if the person is infected or not. These

Unemployment As Factor ladies will pass it to their spouses or partners who also sleep with some other girls all in the name of catching fun. Meanwhile, the world HIV/AIDS day that was celebrated on December 1 saw the release of statistics which show that in the rural areas there is the prevalence of HIV/ AIDS in the Urban Centres, Edo State being a reference point. According to sources, the reason why those in the cities are more infected is because they are not informed, they lack the proper orientation on how to protect themselves. One lady, an advocate said she “use to pay visit to rural areas every holiday, educating them on the virus and also giving them condom to help them protect themselves from spreading the virus”, and she adds; that she also displayed to them how to put or fix it on, because some of them might not know how to use it. That is commendable for individuals as well as corporate organizations. Nevertheless, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has it in the expectation that by 2015, the world would have been able to tackle the spread of HIV/Virus and also would have been properly enlightened about it. In Nigeria as a whole, unemployment has really created avenues for many to contract this dreaded virus haven broken down the moral fibres of the youth and only a few engaging in good paying jobs where he or she can

By BIJOR CELESTINA OMOJEVWE

have the finance to buy Television, Radio, Newspaper, or to watch cinemas, where they would get proper orientation on what prevail without information, he or she might be deformed, or vulnerable to contracting the virus.

Acquired Immuno Defiency Virus. The government knew that will be a an intelligent way to communicate with the people, not by using the print or electronic media, but face to face communication that most of them especially those who are not married

Furthermore, unemployment can make one to do crazy things at times even at the detriment of their lives to the extent of not having money to buy condom. Let’s wander to the Ghanian society where the government has really tried by providing packets of condoms for members of the Ghanian Society every month as a way of tackling the

cannot object to. According to an unnamed source who have lived in Ghana for 3 years she said “I love Ghanaians, especially their government, who always supports the masses by providing them with packets of condoms, thereby not encouraging having sex with one who is not your wife or husband with your flesh and blood, and is a nig

“In Nigeria as a whole, unemployment has really created avenues for many to contract this dreaded virus haven broken down the moral fibres of the youth and only a few engaging in good paying jobs where he or she can have the finance to buy Television, Radio, Newspaper, or to watch cinemas, where they would get proper orientation on what prevail without information, he or she might be deformed, or vulnerable to contracting the virus.”

way or solving the risk of being infected with the deadly virus called HIV/ AIDS”. Like Ghana, the rest of the world, especially Africa, should emulate and also provide the basic thing that the people need, and employment for the youth tops the list, so that there will be a reduction of the deadly scourge by the year 2015.

for these ones, and for those who might have started having sex even when not married, need to be properly equipped with ideas, condoms before engaging in sexual practices. But when the resource is not to get it the reverse is the case, and they might just fall victims. So to kick against the spread of HIV/AIDS, we

For Nigeria, the government, in the Federal, State, Local government and private parastatals and individuals should please provide avenue for job opportunities, in order to reduce the spread of the virus and much more support corporate bodies, orphanage homes who are already doing a great job in the campaign against HIV/AIDS. Again educating people against discrimination on people living with the virus. For example in Nigeria, there thousands of graduates from (MCS, HND, BSc, Diploma, OND) but there is no job opportunities created for these once, at

all have a part to play: avoid sharp objects such as razor blade, and nail cutters, and using sharp object you found on the ground. Stop sharing needles and clippers, because there might be residues of foreign viruses that may increase the spreads of the virus. And also we should not stop announcing the spread of the diseases, the campaign should continue either formally or informally. Until when the work is done like in the case of malaria that killed thousands of young infants, youths in the past. With adequate information sensitization malaria has reduced drastically.

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Religion

Principles Underlying The Christian Marriage IF you want to enjoy marriage as God ordained it to be you must understand these principles and apply then in your home. The principle of subjectivity This principle tells us that “Christ is the head of the man and the man is the head of the wife that means the wife should submit herself to the husband and the husband must see Christ as his head, and not see himself as a mountain. “Wives submit yourselves into your own husbands as unto the lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church Eph 5:22-23 “But I would have you know that the head of everyman is Christ and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God” 1 Corll; 3 The principle of reciprocal love The foundation for the Christian marriage is love; mutual love and mutual consent. This is the reference to the Bible concept of God finding a “help meet” for Adams. God said “I will make him an help meet for him” Gen2:18. From one of the ribs of Adam was Eve created. This epitomizes love because the rib bones protect the heart which in the rejoin of love. Therefore reciprocal love for husband and wife sustains the Christian marriage. Love in marriage is a clear fulfillment of all the levels of love theologically speaking - Agape, Phileo and Ero - the agape love binds you together in the union of Christ. The binding

love in Christ that must keep the union; then expression of “Phileo” that makes the couple relate as close friends or confidants to each other; and “eros” -the love that attracts each other for sexual desire. It is in Christian marriage you find this three levels of love fully manifested. Hence Paul wrote concerning love in marriage: “Husbands love your wives even as Christ also loved the church so ought man to love their wives as their own bodies. HE THAT LOVETH HIS WIFE, LOVETH HIMSELF” EPH 5:25,28 And the woman in turn most show love and reverence to the husband. “And the wife see that she reverence her husband” Eph 5:33. THE PRINCIPLE OF M U T U A L KNOWLEDGE The Bible advises the husband to treat the wife “according to knowledge” (1 Pet 3:7) the man in the early years of marriage should study the wife likewise the wife should study the husband. Mannerisms or attitudes or behavioural patterns hitherto hidden during your courtship years or months shall begin to manifest in the early periods of marriage. The study enables you to know how to understand and respond to each other for a peaceful home. The weaknesses of each they can be prayerfully overcome. You are not to allow such weaknesses become bones of contention in the home -but to see how to assist and help each other to manage a happy home.

THE PRINCIPLE OF MUTUAL HOME UPKEEP The husband ideally is the bread winner of the familythe builder of the family but the wife is the keeper of the family. They need this knowledge to run a successful home. Whole the man provides for the family upkeep the woman should render her support. For if a man “provides not for his own and specifically for

the husband in the upkeep of the home. THE PRINCIPLE OF THIRD PARTY NONINTERFERENCE When young couples have not spent time enough to study each other in marriage, they end up quarreling over very little things and begin to report themselves to friends and in-laws. This can be the beginning of a crumbling marriage. Two persons

those of his own house.... He-is worse than an infidel” 1Tim 5:8. Equally the wife must be “sober love her husband, love her children chaste ... keeper at home” Tit 2:4 She also “ looketh well to the ways of her household and eateth not the bread of idleness “Prov 3 1:27. No wife should be idle but complement the efforts of

come together in love, they are not saints in themselves, but according to grace. Misunderstandings can arise, but don’t let such go out of proportion. Avoid third party interference in friends or relations. Learn to accommodate each other.. But if there be the need you may consult your church marriage counselors than

“From one of the ribs of Adam was Eve created. This epitomizes love because the rib bones protect the heart which in the rejoin of love.”

With REV. A. A. OPARA friends or relations. THE PRINCIPLE OF BODY NON DENIAL This has to do with sexual activities in marriage which Dr Elton observes nourishes the Christian marriage which is a holy union. The man should not deny the woman nor the woman deny the man. The Bible is emphatic about this and warns that any such denial could lead to the devil tempting the other and thus the beginning of marital crisis

“Defraud ye not one another ... that Satan tempt, ye not for your incontinency” lCor7:5 . FAMILY ALTAR PRINCIPLE The Christian marriage is brought about by the grace of God and sustainable through contact with the lord in prayers. The man and woman must develop the need to pray together as a family and when the children begin to come, they join in this family prayers which is commonly called family Alter. The children therefore develop the habit of praying. It is good and advisable to observe family Alter at least twice a dayearly in the morning before you set out for the day and

last thing at night before you go to sleep. With consistent prayer God will keep the marriage, guide the couple lead them and bless them. This will be a happy home. THE PRINCIPLE OF DETERMINATION This principle underlies the fact that if a marriage will work or fail largely depends on the couple to make it work. You must do all you can to make your marriage work knowing the pains you cause yourselves and the inconveniences you may cause others should the

marriage breakup. A failed marriage never pleases God. Therefore you must be patient with each other, tolerate each other respect yourselves; respect your in-laws; avoid whatever will be a hindrance to a happy home. Remember Paul determined to succeed in his mission proclaimed thus: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me” Phil 4:13 You too can do all things through Christ who giveth you strength learn to lean on the lord Jesus always. Remember each one is accountable to the Lord. Roms 14:12.

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

International N\Korea Marks End Of Kim Jong Il Mourning Period PYONGYANG, North Korea - North Korea marked the end of a three-year mourning period for the late leader Kim Jong Il on Wednesday, opening the way for his son, Kim Jong Un, to put a more personal stamp on the way the country is run. The anniversary of Kim Jong Il’s death three years ago was observed by sirens ringing out across the country at noon. Trains, ships and cars sounded their horns and masses of North Koreans fell silent for three minutes as they bowed toward the mausoleum in Pyongyang where Kim Jong Il and his father, “eternal president” Kim Il Sung, lie in state. It is a Korean custom to

observe three years of mourning after the death of a parent. The anniversary of the death of Kim Jong Il is not a public holiday, but activity slows, with people expected to take part in meetings exulting his memory and making a show of solemn behavior, not drinking alcohol and not taking part in any kind of entertainment. With the mourning period now behind him, the younger Kim may be more likely to initiate new policies that underscore his own priorities and goals, though it is believed that major departures from his father’s path are unlikely. Since the death of his father, Kim Jong Un has indicated he

wants to build the economy and improve the nation’s standard of living, but he has also held firm to the North’s longstanding — and extremely costly — focus on strengthening its military and developing its nuclear weapons capabilities. Some indications of the course he intends to chart may become clearer in the annual New Year’s message, which is usually either a speech or an editorial covered heavily in the North Korean media and watched closely by outside experts for hints of what North Korea’s priorities are. Attention is also focusing on when Kim will make his first trip abroad.

In a front-page story Wednesday, the Asahi, a major Japanese daily, reported that Kim, along with other heads of state, has been invited by Moscow to attend an event commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Soviet

Union’s victory over Nazi Germany. The Asahi said the invitation for the May 9 event was extended when ruling party secretary Choe Ryong Hae was in Moscow last month to meet with Russian President

Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Quoting anonymous diplomatic sources in Beijing, it said the possibility of a visit by Kim was raised by Choe. Going to Russia before China would in itself be a strong political statement by Kim.

Beijing To Get Third Airport To Reduce BEIJING (AP) — China has Congestion, Delays green-lighted a third airport for the capital Beijing in a bid to reduce congestion and chronic delays, state media reported Wednesday. The massive new airport will be located 46 kilometers (29 miles) south of the city center and take five years to build, according to the China Daily newspaper and other outlets. When completed, it will handle 72 million passengers per year, taking the pressure off Beijing Capital International Airport in the city’s northeast that is the world’s secondbusiest, handling more than 83 million passengers last year. A second airport, Nanyuan, is a former military airfield with limited capacity. China is splashing out on

specific infrastructure as part of efforts to limit its economic slowdown. Beijing’s is the third airport to get the go-ahead in just the last month, while feasibility studies for five other projects were approved in October. State planning agency the National Development and Reform Commission has set the airport’s construction budget at just over $13 billion dollars. Designed by Netherlands Airport Consultants B.V., it will have a 700,000-square meter (7,500,000 square foot) main terminal and capacity to process 2 million tons of cargo per year. The airport will be connected to Beijing by a 66-kilometer (41-mile) light rail line with

PUBLIC NOTICE GOD’S WILL BIBLE MINISTRY The general public is hereby notified that the above named ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act Cap 59 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Trustees are: i. Prophet Rasaki Sarafa Joshua-President ii. Evangelist Dorcas Tinuke Joshua-Member iii. Mr. Wilson Onwudegu-Member iv. Deacon Emmanuel Oresere-Member Aims and Objectives a) Missionary activities b) Teaching and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ c) Fellowship, prayers, praises, deliveranceand celebration of marriages d) Orphanage, care-giving for the aged, homeless and less privileged e) Education: i. Establishment of educational institutions at all levels- Nursery, Primary, Secondary, Polytechnic and University ii. Setting up Seminary and Bible College Any objection of the said Ministry should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: Patrick Ehi Eifediyi Esq. 08025661018,08039333028

CHANGE OF NAME UMWENI- I formerly called Umweni Odion is now known and called Mr Omosigho Collins. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

RECONCILIATION OF NAME I, ZOGL ASEMOTA ESEOSA wish to bring for the information of the general public that I am the same person as Asemota Eseosa. Henceforth, I now wish to be properly addressed as Asemota Eseosa. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

travel times under 30 minutes. China’s fast growing air travel market is the world’s second biggest, but the heavy air traffic and tight control of airspace by the military have given it the world’s worst record for flight delays.

North Koreans gather at the Mansu Hill where the statues of the late leaders Kim I: Sung, and Kim Jong Il tower recently, in Pyongyang, North Korea a day before the 3rd anniversary of the death of Kim Jong Il.

Philippines To Get Frigates, Gunboats, Helicopters As Tension Simmers

MANILA - The Philippines aims to buy two frigates, two helicopters and three gunboats for deployment in the South China Sea where a territorial dispute with China has lent urgency to the need to bolster

ADDITION OF NAME I, INNEH ELIZABETH OYENWEN wish to bring for the information of the general public that I am the same person as Inneh Elizabeth. Henceforth, I now wish to be known and addressed as Inneh Elizabeth Oyenwen. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc and the general public should take note.

forces, a Philippine navy officer said on Wednesday. China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, rejecting claims to parts of it by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan. The confrontation between the Philippines and China has been particularly tense since June 2012 when China seized a rocky outcrop known as the Scarborough Shoal which is believed to be rich in oil and natural gas as well as fisheries resources. “The events in the West Philippine Sea actually gave some urgency on the acquisition,” Rear Admiral Caesar Taccad, head of the

PUBLIC NOTICE GLORY OF GOD OPEN HEAVEN PRAYER GROUND MINISTRY The general public is hereby notified that the above named Ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act Cap 59 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Trustees are: I. Pastor Joshua Oyewole Bolade —General Overseer/President II. Evangelist Juliana Moyinoluwa Bolade -Member Ill. Evangelist Victor Adewale Bolade -Member IV. Mr. Olusegun Bolade -Member Aims and Objectives a) Evangelism and Missionary activities b) Teaching and Ministering the gospel of Jesus Christ c) Prayers, praises, deliverance and celebration of marriages d) Orphanage, caregiving for the aged, homeless and less privileged e) Education: Establishment of educational institutions at all levels- Nursery, Primary, Secondary, Polytechnic, Bible College and University Any objection of the said Ministry should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed. Patrick Ehi Eifediyi Esq. 08025661018,08039333028

Philippine Navy’s weapons system, told reporters. The Philippines has embarked on a 15-year, 90 billion peso ($2 billion) modernization program to improve its capability to defend its maritime borders.The procurement list announced on Wednesday will be bought with 39 billon pesos from that budget. The government aimed to sign contracts early next year for the new warships, Taccad said on board the navy’s most powerful warship, BRP Gregorio del Pilar, a former U.S. coastguard cutter. China has been reclaiming land in various parts of the Spratlys islands and appear to be constructing airstrips and ports in five reefs to gain full control of them. The Philippines, a close U.S. ally, has brought an international arbitration case against China, seeking

clarification on its entitlements under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. China has refused to take part in the arbitration. A ruling is expected late next year. Vietnam recently submitted its position to the arbitration tribunal, drawing an angry response from China. South Korea, Spain and France had submitted tenders for two stealth, missileguided frigates worth 18 billion pesos while Italy and Indonesia are bidding for two anti-submarine warfare helicopters, Taccad said. Indonesia won contracts for two strategic sealift vessels and will deliver the first ship in early 2016. Taiwan and five other shipyards are competing for three missile-capable multipurpose attack craft. Coastal radars will be supplied by the United States.

Pakistan PM Lifts Moratorium On Death Penalty After Taliban Attack ISLAMABAD - The Pakistani prime minister lifted a moratorium on the death penalty on Wednesday, a day after Taliban gunmen attacked a school, killing 132 students and nine teachers, a government spokesman said.

Mohiuddin Wani said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had approved the decision of a ministerial committee to life the moratorium. “It was decided that this moratorium should be lifted. The prime minister approved,” he said.

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

International Features PESHAWAR, Pakistan Pakistan woke up to a day of mourning yesterday after Taliban militants killed 132 students at a school in the city of Peshawar in a grisly attack which shocked the nation and put pressure on the government to do more to tackle the insurgency. People around the country lit candles and staged overnight vigils as parents prepared to bury their children during mass funerals in and around Peshawar - a big, volatile city on the edge of Pakistan’s lawless tribal belt. Pakistanis may be used to almost daily militant attacks against the security forces but an outright assault on children stunned the country, prompting commentators to call for a tough military response. In Peshawar, the vast grounds of the military-run Army Public School were all but deserted, with a handful of snipers manning the roofs of its pink brick-and-stone buildings. Army vehicles and soldiers wearing face masks and carrying automatic rifles were deployed by the entrance. A day after the attack, Peshawar appeared subdued

said, but it was unclear whether it was done in response to the school attack. Yet, despite the wellpublicized crackdown, the military has long been accused of being too lenient towards Islamist militants who critics say are used to carry out the army’s bidding in places like the disputed Kashmir region and Afghanistan. The military denies the accusations. “People will have to stop equivocating and come together in the face of national tragedy,” said Sherry Rehman, a former ambassador to the United States and an opposition

year promising to negotiate peace with the Pakistani Taliban - but those efforts failed this year, weakening his position and prompting the army to launch an air-andground operation against insurgents along the Afghan border. The military staged more air strikes against Taliban positions there late on Tuesday, a security source

politician. “There have been national leaders who been apologetic about the Taliban, who have not named the Taliban in their speeches.” The Pakistani Taliban, who are fighting to impose strict Islamic rule in Pakistan, are holed up in the inaccessible mountains straddling the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. They are allied with the Afghan Taliban as well as al

Qaeda and other foreign fighters, and Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan of not doing enough to crack down on their bases. Afghanistan, for its part, blames Pakistan for allowing militant groups such as the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani network to operate freely on its territory and stage attacks in Afghanistan. Pakistan’s army chief was expected to visit Afghanistan on Wednesday for what is likely to be a day of uneasy talks with his Afghan counterparts on how to tackle the insurgency. Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper quoted a source as saying that the militants were acting on direct orders from their handlers in Afghanistan and that prominent Taliban commander Umar Naray was the ultimate mastermind of the attack. Speaking late on Tuesday, army spokesman Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa hinted at that without naming Afghanistan. “When these militants reached the school ... we found out which group was involved, who they were talking to, from where the operation was being controlled,” he said. “God willing, in coming two-four days you will get to know.”

Deutsche Bank. “That is probably an aspect markets might focus on to a certain extent — what’s the political commitment like in some of these peripheral countries.” An election victory of Syriza could add to the popularity of extremist parties all over Europe, possibly resulting in bad policy choices, economists said. “It could spark a more fundamental discussion on the

policy mix, how do we get out of low growth, etc, which could be an explosive mix,” said ING’s Brzeski. For now, such concerns are just speculation. Early Greek elections may not happen if Samaras persuades enough independent and opposition deputies to vote for his candidate in a round of presidential election ballots in parliament this month. And if there are elections in

January, officials and economists point out that Syriza may not get enough votes to rule alone and need to form a coalition that may soften its demands. “In politics you behave differently before and after elections,” one euro zone official said. “There is a level of worry, but what will happen is now difficult to predict.”

European Commissioner for Economics, taxation and customs Pierre Moscovici (front right) and Greece’s Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis (front left) exit the Maximos Mansion.

Pakistan In Mourning As Parents Bury Children After School Attack and many were still in shock, recalling the gruesome events and trying to soothe each other. More details of the well-organized attack emerged as witnesses came forward with their stories. “The attackers came around 10:30 a.m. on a pick-up van,” said Issam Uddin, a 25-yearold school bus driver. “They drove it around the back of the school and set it

on fire to block the way. Then they went to Gate 1 and killed a soldier, a gatekeeper and a gardener. Firing began and the first suicide attack took place.” The government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has announced a three-day mourning period but people’s anxiety focused on what the authorities can do to protect the country. Sharif came to power last

Political Fallout, Worry, Financial Contagion Seems Limited BRUSSELS - Five years after Greece sparked a sovereign debt crisis that threatened the euro’s survival, the country again has the potential to rattle its currency partners if Greeks have to elect a new government next month. But this time any fallout for the euro zone could be more political than financial. It would be seen in rising support for militant political parties rather than rising borrowing costs. This is because almost 90 percent of Greek debt is now held by official creditors — euro zone governments — and, after the 2012 restructuring of privately held Greek debt, no one in Greece is talking about another round for the private sector. “I don’t believe for one minute that Greece could provoke another ‘mega crisis’,” one EU official involved in economic policy-making during the debt crisis said. “Whatever happens there is now primarily a concern for euro zone treasuries, not for private investors.” Unlike in 2010, when the

crisis started, euro zone governments now have the protection of the 500 billion euro zone bailout fund. Governments also have instruments and procedures developed during the crisis to react to market turmoil. But the biggest defense against any contagion is the European Central Bank which declared in 2012 it would do whatever it takes to protect the euro. “ECB President Mario Draghi’s ‘whatever it takes’ is still extremely strong. It would not be questioned by markets if something goes wrong in Greece,” said ING economist Carsten Brzeski. Yet uncertainty among Greece’s euro zone peers is rife because if Athens is forced to hold early elections, the pro-reform government of center-right Antonis Samaras could lose to the anti-reform leftist Syriza, which leads in opinion polls. Euro zone governments want Greece, which has just started growing after six years of recession, to continue with reforms so the country can eventually repay them. But Syriza not only vows to stop budget consolidation and reverse some privatizations

and reforms, it has also called for a debt write-off from official lenders. Such a write-off would be unlikely because officials believe that now that Greece is growing again, it can pay back its debts. A write-off would also put the euro zone in an impossible position with other debtors. “If the euro zone would say OK in the end, Greece would win big, but then what would we do with the countries with public debt over 100 percent of GDP? Italy and Portugal are at over 120 percent. How can we expect their citizens to pay it off if Greece is forgiven? And how can we expect Third World countries to pay up in such a situation?” one euro zone official said. POLITICAL SPILL While EU officials and economists believe Syria’s radical slogans may mellow if it comes to power, a victory of the anti-EU party in Greece would still be a boost to likeminded Euroskeptics of far left and right across Europe. “The peripheral countries like Greece, Spain and Ireland are growing quite rapidly, but so too is the political risk in those countries,” said Mark Wall, chief euro area economist at

A man lights candles to mourn the victims from the Army Public School in Peshawar, which was attack by Taliban gunmen, in Karachi.

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

International Features SOUTH Sudan’s civil war recently entered its second year. Unlike in past wars, church leaders here are having an increasingly hard time participating in peace talks and mediation. The camp is hardly sacred ground: thousands of ethnic Nuer live here under United Nations peacekeeper protection in fear of Dinka soldiers outside. But Bishop Taban is here to conduct mass anyway. “The church is to be with the suffering people, wherever in the world,” the 78-year-old bishop says. Taban has no trouble crossing South Sudan’s ethnic lines to preach on Sundays. That’s because in South Sudan, church leaders are held in higher esteem than perhaps anyone else. They earned that position through fifty years of struggle. During South Sudan’s long wars for independence from the hardline Islamist government in Khartoum, Sudan, priests and pastors brought humanitarian relief to civilians during the heaviest fighting. They lobbied the international community to support the southern cause, and, crucially, brokered peace between communities torn apart by war and ethnic strife. Yet in South Sudan’s latest civil war, which just entered its second year, church leaders have been unable to seriously influence politicians and generals. Instead, they’ve been attacked by militants, sidelined at peace talks, and silenced at home. It’s a shocking change for South Sudan, a country whose existence in many people’s minds is founded on the idea of religious freedom for Christians, who form the vast majority

of the population. Now, church leaders are saying they have to escalate their efforts to be a neutral, trusted force that can bring politicians in line, and lead the divided populace to reconciliation. South Sudan’s latest war began December 2013 when government troops began massacring Nuer in the capital, Juba. In response, the national army, called the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), split along ethnic lines and a violent uprising began in the country’s northeast, pitting Dinka loyal to President Salva Kiir against Nuer led by former vice president Riek Machar. Both sides have committed horrific atrocities.

A hostage runs towards a police officer outside Lindt cafe, where other hostages are being held in Martin Place in Central Sydney recently.

Churches Struggle To Keep Role As Trusted Peacemakers

From the start, church leaders were shards of light in a grim conflict. Priests, pastors, and nuns protected civilians from extremists on either side, at times standing up to armed men with little more than a cross necklace for protection. Yet in Juba and in flashpoint towns of Bor and Malakal, which saw some of the heaviest fighting, churches or clergy came under attack. Priests were murdered, and in some instances, civilians were slaughtered in churches where they sought refuge. The Presbyterian church alone lost nine clergy. By May, civilians were leaving church compounds, saying they no longer felt safe inside. “In this situation, like in Rwanda, the blood of the tribe has become thicker than the blood of the Christ,” says Episcopal

Bishop Enock Tombe, who leads a religious delegation at the peace talks. By mid-year, as the fighting died down with the onset of rains, so did direct violence against churches. But another problem arose. The churches could not get their voices heard. The warring parties refused church participation in peace negotiations until June, and repeatedly boycotted the talks afterward to avoid religious groups and other non-armed actors from participating. In governmentcontrolled areas, Catholic radio stations have been censored and shut down, with staff thrown in jail. There are reports of rebel hardliners threatening or even attacking pastors preaching moderation in their areas. Government security agents even attempted to shut down a Catholic

church-led peace march in Juba yesterday to mark the war’s first anniversary. But the attacks have not stopped South Sudan’s religious leaders from speaking out,though. Clergy have condemned the violence in increasingly militant terms, labeling the fighting “evil,” calling the country’s leaders “dry bones” in need of spiritual renewal. They’ve urged civilians not to follow the warlords like “cattle,” and lamented that politicians view those who die as “just grasshoppers,” not caring. Meanwhile, other leaders like Taban— known for his nonjudgmental approach to peacebuilding in previous wars—have used more conciliatory approaches, attempting to consult and advise. But the politicians have not changed course. “Has it fallen in a dead

“The warring parties refused church participation in peace negotiations until June, and repeatedly boycotted the talks afterward to avoid religious groups and other non-armed actors from participating.”

ear?” asks Taban, who says he has been trying for months to have a private meeting with President Kiir without success. “The political leaders think that their side of the story is always correct they don’t want contradiction,” says Bishop Tombe. “[They ask us], why do you speak as if you are with the rebels?” To some, the churches’ struggle to be heard is a sign of their weakened influence since the last war. John Ashworth, a longtime adviser to South Sudan’s churches, says clergy are less united than during the long wars as each denomination has focused on rebuilding their own churches since peace in 2005. Important clergy left the cloth altogether when presented with more worldly opportunities in peacetime. “Some of our good people; because of money, salaries they join the government,” Taban says. Others simply lost focus. At a recent synod of one church in Juba, the main issue on the agenda was not peace, but pornography. But to others, the disrespect for the church by top politicians is a sign of a deeper problem, one that strikes at the heart of the nation’s accepted history.

South Sudan’s independence struggle was often considered a fight for religious freedom for the mostly Christian south against the Islamist government in Khartoum. SPLA propaganda perpetuates this story, referring to the churchgoing President Kiir, for instance, as the “Joshua” who took South Sudan to the promised land of independence after the 2005 death of the “Moses,” SPLA founder John Garang. But this story never accorded with the facts. The SPLA began as a Marxist-influenced movement backed by Ethiopian Communists. Taban points out that during the long war, the SPLA – ostensibly fighting for southerners like him – imprisoned him for 100 days after he broke through a siege to bring food to civilians under their attack. Tombe says the atrocities of the latest war fully explode the myth of the SPLA as Christian liberators. “These politicians cannot claim [to be Christian],” he says. “Even if they go to church on Sunday they are not guided by Christian values only. They may be Christian by name, but Christian values have not really penetrated.”

THE NIGERIAN

Still Small

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

International Man And Nature Voice

EVER heard a little voice inside telling you to be, wary or advising you to just go for it? Whether it’s about your man, your children or your health, please, do not ignore that voice, it means that your intuition is at work. Every intuitive, perception that a person has immediately forms a picture. The so called inner voice, the spiritual part of man, to which he can listen, is the intuitive perception. It is not without reason that people say. The first impression is always right. Impression means intuitive impression, for example what a man, intuitively senses at a first meeting with a stranger can either be a kind of warning, to be kind of careful, which may even go as far as absolute repugnance or something pleasant mounting to a feeling of complete, affiliation. In some case, it may be different. If now, in the course of conversation or further intercourse, this impression is brushed aside or entirely effaced through the judgment of the intellect, so that thought arises that the original intuitively effaced through the judgment of the intellect, was wrong. It almost invariably turns out at the end of such an acquaintance, that the very first intuition was the right one. And this often occurs to the bitter suffering of those who allowed their intellect to mislead them through the deceptive nature of other person. It is absolutely impossible for the intuitive perception to err. How often man hears it said. In this or that matter, I allowed myself to be guided by my feelings and got into trouble. Whenever, man is led astray, there are two reasons for these errors, either the intellect or the feeling. You don’t put your

finger on it, but something doesn’t, feeling right or maybe, its not something but someone that’s the trouble, there is nothing obviously offensive about them, but you feel uncomfortable even sitting in the same room, let alone striking up a conversion. When Justina met her husband’s workmate Simon, at a social get together, she felt uneasy, although, she couldn’t pinpoint why. He was friendly and presentable, but something made her husband suggest inviting Simon for dinner a few weeks later, but she said “no” It is easy to dismiss feeling like these as the product of an over-active imagination. But ignoring them is usually the last thing we should do, this is our intuition or “sixth sense” at work. It is worth taking notice of. In Justina’s case, a few months later, Simon was accused of sexual harassment by a female colleague. Justina thinks her intuition told her something the very first time she met Simon. When To Trust Your Feeling- When they relate to your personal safety. So, if you feel uneasy about a stranger or situation, act straight away. There is no harm done if you are wrong, a man you have never met won’t know. You crossed the road to avoid him. The intivtion picks up any intent in one’s eye. When They Involve Your Children- Feeling of intuition involving parents and children are common place, mums often in intuitively know when their children are in trouble and that intuition seems to go on working when the kids had grown-up. Incidence of mothers and their daughters picking up the phone to call each at the sametime are extremely common (Cassandra 2001). I know of one mother who

suddenly, felt her young baby was in danger, even though she was being looked after by her father, when she ran home to check, the baby was silently chokingon a ballon and dad hadn’t noticed it maternal intuition can act as a kind of automatic radar, sensing danger even when you can’t see it When they concern your health. You have no physical symptoms but you are sure your body is

unease at this early stage could be telling you something important but wary of jumping to conclusions in more established relationships. Often people will describe having a feeling that a partner is having an affairs just because you think someone is straying that isn’t necessarily the case, instead, she suggests evaluating, your relationship and looking for causes that could be sparking you concern.

trying to tell you. Something its worth checking things out. Most doctors will take a patient seriously if they have a gut feeling something’s wrong (John, 2002) . Mothers and children are a special example here may be nothing obviously wrong with a child but a mother will explain they perceive something is amiss and they are often right. When To Wary: When it comes to our relationships we use intuition when we decide whether or not to accept a drink from a stranger in a bar. But while feeling of

When It Coues To Fond- According to nutritionists, there is no evidence that you intuitively eat foods that your body needs. You are more likely to want ice cream because you associate it with positive emotions rather than your body reaction to a need for calcium. But your intuition can warm you against poisonous food. When Intuition Gets Composed With Apprehension- If you have doubts about accepting a new job that seem ideal. It probably means you need to find out more about what it

“Whenever, man is led astray, there are two reasons for these errors, either the intellect or the feeling.”

With O.C. Madu

involves. Don’t fall into the trap of confusing intuition with natural apprehensive feeling or imagination. Self doubt is what usually tells you, you are not up to a job (Austin, 2004). Beware of fear of failure masquerading as intuition. The so called “inner voices,” the spiritual part of man, call it small voice

to which he can listen to is the intuition. Rejoice that this treasure lies inviolable within you. It is of no importance whether you are esteemed by your neighbours or not, listen to the warning that assail you whether it is, in form of a terrible grief or great emotional upheaval, severe suffering or supreme pure joy, do not let them go by without profiting from it. They are aids which show you the way. Every intuitive perception that a person has immediately forms a picture. In the formation of this picture the small brain or cerebellum participates as the bridge across which the soul controls the body. It is that part of the brain through which you receive your dreams. It is in turn

connected with the frontal brain or cerebrum, through the activity of which thoughts are generated that are more closely tied to space and time and which eventually constitute the intellect (Abd-dru-shin- in The Light of Truth). Intuition is thus, often received as a kind of inner

perception sometimes, regarded as real lucidity or understanding. Intuition therefore, is the ability to acquire knowledge without inference or the use of reason. Intuition provides view, understandings, judgments or beliefs that we cannot in every case empirically verift or rationally justify. It is an irrational function, opposed most directly by sensation and opposed less strongly by the rational functions of thinking and feeling. Jung defined intuition as perception via the unconscious using sense – perception only as a starting point, to bring forth ideas, images, possibilities, ways out of a blocked situation by a process that is mostly unconscious Peace and Joy.

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Koeman Slams ‘Disrespecful’ Sheffield United After League Cup Exit Southampton manager Ronald Koeman slammed Sheffield United’s coaching staff after his side’s 1-0 defeat to the League One outfit, accusing them of showing a lack of respect. Koeman’s side travelled to Bramall Lane looking to secure a place in the League Cup semi-finals, but suffered a fifth successive defeat in all competitions. Marc McNulty netted the game’s only goal in the 63rd minute, pouncing on an abysmal mistake from Saints goalkeeper Fraser Forster. United assistant Chris Morgan was sent to the stands almost immediately after the goal as Koeman found himself in a verbal battle with the hosts’ backroom team. And in response to what Koeman felt was disrespectful behaviour, the former Barcelona defender refused to shake the hand of opposing manager Nigel Clough at full-time. He explained: “I shake hands with people who have respect for me as a coach, who have respect for the fourth referee [official]. “I think the behaviour of the bench of Sheffield United, I never saw that. That was the reason why I didn’t shake hands.” To make matters worse for Koeman, Southampton will be without suspended trio

Morgan Schneiderlin, Victor Wanyama and Florin Gardos who was sent off in the latter stages of the clash - as they look to avoid a sixth consecutive defeat when they host Everton on Saturday. “It’s difficult,” acknowledged Koeman. “In my opinion that’s one of the problems in the last few weeks – we have to change every time the team and with injuries with suspensions and, okay, suspensions is part of football and injuries is a part of football, but we have not a lot of midfielders available. “We had to make choices. Schneiderlin played finally 90 minutes. Normally he wasn’t allowed to play 90 minutes but we had to change and that was the problem and we knew that before the season. “If we get these kind of problems in injuries and suspensions then it’s difficult.”

•Koeman

Simeone Likely To ATLETICO Madrid are Rotate likely to rotate their squad in the second leg of their last32 Copa del Rey clash against L’Hospitalet. The Spanish champions hold a 3-0 aggregate lead ahead of Thursday’s match after a hard-fought away win earlier this month. L’Hospitalet, who sit 11th in the regonialised third tier of Spanish football, put up a good fight on that occasion the game still goalless after an hour. It was the introduction of France international Antoine Griezmann that changed the game, though, as he eventually broke the deadlock. Further goals for Gabi from the penalty spot - and Cristian Rodriguez in the last 10 minutes virtually sealed Atleti’s place in the last 16. Those late strikes mean

Simeone can give his squad a chance to rest, particularly after Sunday’s disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Villarreal. Atleti slipped seven points behind La Liga leaders and city rivals Real Madrid with the loss, which came due to Luciano Vietto’s 84th-minute strike for the visitors. Diego Simeone’ side, who drew Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 of the Champions League on Monday, missed a host of chances in that match, and the coach hinted at changes when five players from Atletico’s reserve team took part in a full training session at the start of the week. Carlos Ramos, Borja Martinez, Nacho Monsalve, Ivan Perez and Sekou Keita may all come into contention for the hosts.

Managing Arsenal Is My Dream But I’ll Need Time Managing Arsenal is still Thierry Henry’s dream job, but the former striker knows he has a long way to go before he can replace Arsene Wenger. Henry announced his retirement on Tuesday after fourand-a-half seasons with New York Red Bulls and has signed a contract to become a television pundit, although he plans to complete his coaching education while he works in the media, with help from the Gunners. Henry joined Arsenal in 1999 and went on to make 258 Premier League appearances for the club - including a short loan stint from the Red Bulls in the 2011-12 season - scoring 175 goals, and the Frenchman would love to return to the club as manager one day. “That would be a dream come

• Thierry Henry

Ronaldo Has Saved His Goal For Final Carlo Ancelotti:

CARLO Ancelotti praised Cristiano Ronaldo’s team ethic following Real Madrid’s 4-0 Club World Cup victory over Cruz Azul. The Portuguese failed to get off the mark in Marrakech but contributed with a pair of assists for Gareth Bale and Isco, prompting his Coach to marvel about his unselfish work in helping Los Blancos reach the final. “It’s never easy but the team played well and won. Now we’ll see how the final goes,” Ancelotti told reporters after the match. Real Madrid cruise into final “It’s true that [Iker]Casillas saving the penalty was key. Being 2-0 up, the game seemed

to be over and they were still able to exploit us. He made a very good stop. “Cristiano [Ronaldo] played very well, he gave us plenty of assistance and was very effective, even though he didn’t score. He’s surely saved himself a goal for the final.” Meanwhile, Iker Casillas described his penalty save as a turning point. The goalkeeper made it successive spot kick saves to deny Gerrardo Torrado from 12 yards out in Marrakech, and he hailed the feel-good factor currently sweeping through Los Blancos ahead of Saturday’s final. “Once again the team were great. We had a great game, and

• Simeone

Atleti, 10-time winners of the competition, will be looking to bounce back from last season’s semi-final defeat to eventual champions Real Madrid. The home side, who last won the Copa del Rey in

although it may seem that the 4-0 was easy, the truth is that at the beginning and end of the first half, Cruz Azul had chances,” he said after the game. If they had scored the penalty, they would have got back to 21 and started the second half with the momentum, but the third goal gave us serenity. “It’s true that 12 or 13 years ago, I stopped this team in the Teresa Herrera trophy[on penalties]. “The truth is I’m happy and contented, and much of this is because of the group dynamics. The collective is very good. “Let’s see what obstacle we have to clear first [in the final]. We need to put the icing on the cake, but it won’t be easy.”

-Henry

true but that’s not how it works,” Henry told The Daily Telegraph. “You have to prove yourself first, you have to learn first. You need to be able to understand what it is to be a manager. “Can you teach, can you be patient? All these problems. People think they are all managers in their own way but it’s not that easy. “The plan is to start my badges and I guess Arsenal will help me. To pass your badges, you have to work closely with a club and I would like to think it is going to be Arsenal. You know I’m in London when you see me at Arsenal. “First and foremost, I don’t know how or when but everybody knows I would love to go back to Arsenal in some capacity. But I need to be equipped to go back. I want to learn the process so I have to get my badges and what not. We will see what is going to happen. “It’s not a secret, everybody talks about me going back to Arsenal and me the same thing but it doesn’t always work like that. First and foremost, I have to make sure that I have everything on board to be able to go back. “Hard work is all I know. It comes from my dad and the guys I played with when I arrived in the national team. Zinedine Zidane, Youri Djorkaeff, Lilian Thuram, Marcel Desailly, Emmanuel Petit, Fabian Barthez, that’s how they were and that’s what they taught me so I took it on board because you can only be the reflection of your education. That’s the way I was educated so that’s what I’m going to try to pass on.”

• Carlo Ancelolti

2013, were beaten 5-0 on aggregate by Real on that occasion. L’Hospitalet enter the match on the back of two wins - with a 2-0 triumph against Eldense on Sunday giving them momentum.

Midfielder Ruben Alcaraz scored in that success and with three goals in his last five matches, represents a threat to Atleti. Alcaraz also scored in L’Hospitalet’s 3-2 win over Izarra earlier in this season’s

competition. The hosts will also be tested by 24-year-old striker David Haro, who has eight league goals for L’Hospitalet this season, including four in as many matches.

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Barca Couldn’t Have Played Any Better Barcelona coach Luis - Luis Enrique claimed it would be were all very good hard to imagine a better performance than his side’s 8-1 triumph over Huesca. The Catalans romped into the Copa del Rey’s round of 16 at Camp Nou on Tuesday, thumping their third-tier opposition to complete a 12-1 aggregate victory. Despite resting the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique, Xavi and Ivan Rakitic, Barcelona had no trouble against Huesca and their coach was full of praise for their performance. “Considering there was very little incentive heading into the game I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of fans who came to support us and the players

individually and collectively,” Luis Enrique told the club’s official website. “They are not easy games to play and this has been a booster for everyone. “We weren’t too worried about a shock and I think we played incredibly well in defence. In my opinion, the opponent are at a much higher level quality-wise than the Segunda B division. “However, it is difficult to imagine us doing a better job than we did in this match, with our mentality, our attitude and our defensive structure.” Barca have one final competitive game in 2014: a home tie against Cordoba in La Liga on Saturday.

Bale: I’m Starting To

Feel Like Alan Shearer

Gareth Bale

Bafana Vs Cameroon Looks likely The proposed friendly

international between South Africa and Cameroon to be held just before the 2015 Afcon finals is looking positive. Safa communications office Dominic Chimhavi did not deny that this game was on the cards, saying that what the Cameroon authorities have said thus far is correct. But he also said they their federation would need to confirm the details. It has emerged that Bafana Bafana could face Cameroon in Gabon, the neighbouring country to tournament host Equatorial Guinea. The Cameroon Football Federation is holding talks with three associations to finalise their warm-up friendlies schedule and Safa is one of them. The Lions of Cameroon could first face DR Congo in Yaoundé, before battling South Africa and Gabon in Libreville.

Cameroon Team Press Officer Vincent de Paul Atangana announced on his Facebook page that Cameroon will prepare in Yaounde from 5 to 7 January and in Libreville from 8 January to 16 January. “The first stage (of our preparation) will end up with a friendly against another African team qualified for the tournament and whose camp will be based in Yaoundé. Talks are underway with Democratic Republic of Congo who will be based in Yaoundé,” Atangana explained in an official announcement. “Libreville is a good venue for warm-up friendlies. Negotiations are taking place with South Africa and Gabon,” he added. South Africa kick off their Afcon campaign against powerhouse Algeria in the event’s Group of Death.

Ronaldo Peaking For Best Team In the World “The match was so difficult for us, but we knew it was going to be. Real Madrid are a team that have the best players in the world. We tried our best but they were simply superior.” Cruz Azul were almost handed a lifeline in the first half when they were gifted a penalty shortly before half-time, with the Real Madrid 2-0 up. However, Iker Casillas saved Gerardo Torrado’s effort to pave the way for Carlo Ancelotti’s men to double their lead in the second half, and Fabian says the Mexican team will now concentrate on winning the third-place play-off. “Casillas was key,” he added. “We had the penalty, it was saved...but these things happen. We couldn’t have done much more. We must face up to the defeat and prepare for the third-place match now.” Cruz Azul will face the loser of Wednesday’s Club World Cup semi-final between San Lorenzo and Auckland City, with Real Madrid facing the winner in Saturday’s final.

Arjen Robben

100th goal as a Bayern Munich player as they strolled to a 2-0 win over Freiburg on Tuesday to go 12 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga. Fresh from scoring twice in a 4-0 win at Augsburg on Saturday, the Netherlands international was on target again in a typically dominant performance in Bayern’s last match at the Allianz Arena before the mid-season break. Head coach Pep Guardiola labelled Robben’s recent performances as “unbelievable” after the Augsburg win. And he reached a century of Bayern goals with a closerange header in the 41st minute from a Franck Ribery knockdown, the Frenchman having himself reached 100 goals against Bayer Leverkusen this month The leaders, who are unbeaten in the league this term, extended their lead three minutes after the break through Thomas Muller’s seventh top-flight goal of the

also rattled the post. Bayern have now won 17 of their last 20 Bundesliga matches and, with secondplaced Wolfsburg not playing until Wednesday, their lead at the top of the table extends to 12 points. The hosts were uncharacteristically wasteful in the final third in the opening 20 minutes, but Bayern soon found their stride and Muller headed over when stretching to meet Ribery’s cross from the left byline. Muller was at the heart of Bayern’s next chance in 22nd minute, the German turning Marc-Oliver Kempf sharply in the area before stabbing narrowly wide when off balance. Robben then tried his luck with a half-volley from distance, before Roman Burki made a fine one-handed stop to deny Mario Gotze’s eightyard side-footed volley that would have found the bottom right-hand corner.

Robben Bags 100th Goal In Stroll Arjen Robben scored his season, while Juan Bernat

Luis Enrique

Cristiano Ronaldo was playing at the peak of his powers for the best team in the world on Tuesday, according to beaten Cruz Azul midfielder Marco Fabian. Real Madrid were imperious as they swept the Concacaf representatives aside in their Club World Cup semi-final. Goals from Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Isco ensured a comfortable 4-0 triumph. Despite not scoring, Ronaldo still stole the headlines with an audacious rabona attempt on the half-volley, and Fabian believes the Ballon d’Or holder and his Blancos teammates played impeccably in the clash in Marrakech. “Cristiano Ronaldo did brilliantly,” the Cruz Azul star, 25, told Goal. “He brings his whole team confidence with his performance, he is a great player in his prme. “He didn’t score but he contributed with two assists. And the end result was that his team won.

saving face by winning the Club World Cup’s third-place play-off. “Real Madrid deserved to win; they were clearly superior,” he told reporters. “The 4-0 scoreline is a good reflection of what happened out on the pitch. “We had some good chances to score but unfortunately we couldn’t make use of any of them. “Although we’ve simply got to acknowledge that Madrid were by far the better team, it was a great experience to play against such a strong side, and we can learn plenty from it. “Now our full attention will be on the match for third place, a game we want to win no matter what.” The winner of San Lorenzo’s semi-final with Auckland City on Wednesday will face Real Madrid, while the loser will match up with Cruz Azul.

The Welshman suggested light-heartedly that he is becoming more like the Newcastle United legend due to his increasing knack for scoring with his head Gareth Bale has compared himself favourably to Premier League legend Alan Shearer due to the increasing amount of headers he is scoring. The 25-year-old, who set Real Madrid back +100 million last year, scored the penultimate goal in Tuesday’s 4-0 thrashing of Cruz Azul in their Club World Cup semifinal. The goal was the third header in recent games for the Welsh winger - following nodded efforts against Ludogorets and Almeria - and Bale thanked the thousands of fans who showed Madrid their support in Marrakech. “Starting to feel a bit like Alan Shearer with these headers!” he wrote on Twitter after the win, which set up a Club World Cup final on Saturday against either Auckland City or San Lorenzo. “Moroccan Madristas were incredible tonight,” he added, with the hashtag #21 in reference to their current clubrecord 21-game winning streak. Cruz Azul coach Luis Fernando Tena accepted his team were utterly outclassed in the semi-final and says his side with now turn their attention to

Cristiano Ronaldo

Micho-Hugo Loss Minus Challenge Cup

Uganda Cranes tactician Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has said cancelling the 2014 Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup is a huge blow. The Cecafa Extra Ordinary Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya on Sunday decided to cancel the regional tournament and decided they concentrate on having a better event next year. Speaking to MTNFootball.com during an interview on Wednesday, the Serbian born coach said it’s a disappointment that this event will not take place. Sredojevic

said they had expected to use the tournament to expose some of the youthful players who will participate in the All Africa Games and Olympic qualifiers that start next year. “It is unfortunate this event has been cancelled because it helps increase mileage in the legs of our players. Ethiopia who were meant to host the regional tournament withdrew last month leaving Cecafa struggling to get another host on short notice. Kenya are the defending champions of the event after defeating Sudan last year.

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Nigeria League Kicks Off March

Edo Boxing Boss Hails Wesco Pools

THE management of Wesco Pools and Lottery Limited has been commended for supporting the renewed effort aimed at repositioning the game of boxing in Edo State. Chairman, Edo State Boxing Association, Hon. Wellington Okoh made the commendation when he led a team of boxers and their coaches on courtesy visit to the company’s head office in Benin City last Tuesday. Hon. Okoh noted that the pools company had been very supportive in providing financial help to both professional and amateur boxers in the state. He explained that the visit was to solicit the support of the management of Wesco Pools towards the successful hosting of the 2nd edition of the annual Edo Boxing Tournament billed for December 26, 2014 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City. Hon Okoh further stated that the tournament which will feature ten bouts in both the male and female

categories, is designed to bring the youths and sports fans together in an atmosphere of friendship and sports entertainment in this festive period. He said entry into the stadium for the event will be free. Responding, the National Public Relations Officer (P.R.O.), Mr. Ademola Raji who stand in for the MD Wesco Pools and lottery Ltd, Barr Adewale Osinubi, said that Wesco Pools as corporate organisation, would continue to identify with sports development in Edo State. The Wesco Pools image maker assured that the company will make substantial contribution towards the success of the boxing tournament, and urged the boxer to continue to train hard to improve their skill. The 2nd edition of the Edo Boxing Tournament is being organised by Wellsfredo promotions in conjunction with Edo Boxing Association as part of activities marking the yuletide in Edo State.

• Amaju Pinnick, NFF’s Chaiman

Hon Wellington Okoh (in suite) with Wesco Pools PRO, Ademola Raji and Edo State boxers in a group photograph during a visit to the company’s head office in Benin City.

Keeping Keshi Will Be Bad Precedence THE technical director of the NFF has asked the Super - Amodu so if we want to live on those Eagles trainer to leave after failing to take the African champions to Afcon 2015 Former Nigeria coach Shaibu Amodu has told Stephen Keshi to stop his demand for a new contract and quit after failing to lead the Super Eagles to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. The defending African champions failed to reach January’s Afcon after placing third in a group that included South Africa, Congo and Sudan. Amodu, recently appointed as Technical Director by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), said that the Big Boss should not expect the NFF to offer him a fresh contract. “Stephen Keshi alone will decide if he has a reputation or he does not have a reputation. If he has a reputation he will walk out of the job, if he does not have, he should stay like a beggar,” Amodu said. “To keep Keshi is bad precedence because when Samson Siasia failed, we came on air to tell the whole country that he had failed [and] that he should go. “President Goodluck Jonathan could not save him,

Shaibu Amodu

standards, what is good for the goose is good for the gander. But you must know that this is my personal opinion.” Amodu also revealed his decision not to take over the team for their last pair of Afcon qualifiers. “As a coach, you are as good as your last game. If as at the time I was asked to oversee the two remaining Afcon qualifiers, I would have been assumed to have failed,” he said. Both Amodu and Keshi worked together in 2002 as the Eagles finished third at the Afcon in Mali. Meanwhile, the leadership of NFF led by Amaju Pinnick has declared that the federation was still in talks which could possibly hand Keshi a new contract. According to Pinnick, “We even spoke with him on Monday, agreement is not something you rush. Both sides have to agree on certain terms. We are also looking at who can work amicably with others.” Nigeria are not in a hurry to settle the coaching job as their next international engagements come up in March 2015.

THE 2014/2015 season of the Nigeria Premier League will begin on March 7, 2015, a top official has announced. League Management Company (LMC) chairman Nduka Irabor dropped the hint in Lagos. Clubs were earlier given the chance to choose between a January 21 kickoff or for the competition to begin on March 7. Irabor also revealed that the LMC will soon introduce more initiatives to make the NPFL exciting and lucrative. One of such initiative is a reward for fans turn out for league matches. According to Irabor, “We are introducing next season a reward or benefit award like we have done with

points accumulated” “Next year we are going to introduce ability to bring fans into the stadium, as a condition for distributing money. “And we are going to give points according to the fans you bring with 3000 being the bench mark.” He explained that “anything under 3000 you don’t get any point. But as you get 3000 you get a point and as you progress the point increases.” “At the end of the season we tally the points and reward the clubs” Kano Pillars got 15 million Naira for finishing top on the premier league, while Nembe City got 1.5m Naira for finishing bottom of the league.

THE NFF boss has denied that he is under influence to hand the coach a new contract even though he failed to take the Super Eagles to Afcon 2015 Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick has said that he is not under any undue pressure to re-appoint Stephen Keshi as the coach of the Super Eagles. He said in as much as he and the other Board members were willing to reappoint Keshi as coach, there is no pressure from outside. “We changed our resolve to re-engage Keshi but there are issues to be tidied up in a contract between two parties. We have to look at so many issues like our budget, can we accommodate his demands and whether he can work with our technical study group,” said Pinnick. “Contracts are not signed overnight, there are factors to be sorted out before we sign. We are talking with

Keshi but I am not under pressure to employ Keshi, we just want to do the right things to work in harmony,” he said. The NFF boss also revealed that there are plans to take advantage of Fifa windows by engaging the Super Eagles in matches while the homebased national team will be in camp in Abu Dhabi to play Cote d’ Ivoire and Mali just to keep them busy. He regretted the fact that the Super Eagles will miss the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea next month. This will also result in the loss of sponsorship and other marketing opportunities. On the Adidas contract, Pinnick said the NFF is working round the clock to get them back stressing that the federation has been able to secure an appointment with Adidas and that hopefully things will be sorted out soon. “In Adidas, we have a prized commodity we shall like to keep, so we are hopeful that we shall get a kit sponsorship with Adidas” Pinnick stated.

No Pressure To Give Keshi Contract - Amaju Pinnick

• Stephen Keshi

THE NIGERIAN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

European Champions Smash Mexicans To Reach Club World Cup Final

Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema’s goals in the first half left the Concacaf club who had a penalty saved trailing before Gareth Bale and Isco cleaned up in the latter 45 minutes Real Madrid made light work of Cruz Azul by smashing them 4-0 on Tuesday in Marrakech to reach the Club World Cup final. Sergio Ramos’ headed opener in the 15th minute set the tone for what was to come, with Karim Benzema adding a second nine minutes before half-time. Gerardo Torrado squandered a glorious opportunity to reduce the deficit prior to the interval when he had a penalty saved by Iker Casillas and Gareth Bale punished that missed chance shortly after the teams emerged for the second period - heading home from a Cristiano Ronaldo cross. With the result already beyond doubt, Isco wormed his way through the Cruz Azul defence to make it four 18 minutes from time.

Real will face the winner of Wednesday’s clash between Auckland City and San Lorenzo in the final on Saturday. Carlo Ancelotti named a strong starting XI to face the Concacaf Champions League winners, and the biggest name on his teamsheet Ronaldo - should have put Real ahead in the opening few minutes. Benzema nodded down a right-wing cross, but the Portuguese attacker’s toe poke from point-blank range was kept out by goalkeeper Jesus Corona. Benzema found the sidenetting with an 18-yard effort that whistled past the lefthand post as Real turned the screw, and the Spanish giants took the lead in the 15th minute - Ramos heading into an empty net after Corona had carelessly charged off his line in a bid to meet a Toni Kroos free-kick. Joao Rojas caused alarm in the opposition penalty area

Fadhli: Bangkok

• Sergio Aguero

shortly before the half-hour mark when he saw an effort deflect just wide off Ramos on a rare attack for the Mexicans.

Kroos, who won last year’s tournament with Bayern Munich, forced a save with a well-placed shot from 20 yards soon after, and it was

Malaysia coach Dollah Salleh has not changed his back four in the 2014 Suzuki Cup. However, it remains to be

is back in training after suffering a back injury during Harimau Malaya’s 4-2 win in the second leg semifinal against Vietnam

Win In Suzuki Cup Final Will Be My Payback Against Thais

Malaysia will be looking to continue their shock run through the 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup when they face favourites Thailand in Bangkok in the first leg of the final on Wednesday. Centre-back Mohd Fadhli Shas has a personal reason for wanting Malaysia to produce a positive result in Wednesday’s first leg final against Thailand at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium. Talking to The Star, the 23-year-old Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) defender explained that in addition to setting up this weekend’s home leg in Kuala Lumpur he wants to enjoy a “payback” moment against the Thais. Malaysia centre-back Mohd. Fadhli Shas — third from left — is seeking payback against Thailand in the first leg of the Suzuki Cup final in Bangkok. “Getting a positive result here will be perfect for us to take into the second leg at the National Stadium on Saturday. It will also be a

sort of payback for me,” said Fadhli, who was sent off in Bangkok during the 2012 Suzuki Cup semifinal between the two countries. Thailand prevailed over Malaysia 2-0 in the second leg contest and 3-1 on aggregate. Fadhli did experience tournament glory in 2010. As a 19-year-old he was part of K. Rajagobal’s title winning squad that lifted the trophy after beating Indonesia in the final. “A lot of things have changed since my last two Suzuki Cups,” said Fadhli. “I still remember winning in 2010 and getting sent off in 2012. All these experiences have made me a better player.” Coach Dollah Salleh has not changed his back four since the start of the tournament. Fadhli, Mohd Muslim Ahmad, Afif Amiruddin and skipper Mohd. Shukor Adan have started in all five of Malaysia’s matches in the 2014 campaign.

not long before Benzema doubled the Real advantage. Dani Carvajal knocked the ball through the legs of defender Fausto Pinto before teeing up Benzema to prod home with a dinked cross from the byline. Ramos was lucky to escape a red card when he was booked for bringing down Mariano Pavone in the penalty area, but captain Torrado was unable to beat Casillas from 12 yards - the

Real goalkeeper diving to his right to pull off a second save from a spot-kick in as many matches. Bale headed in from a Ronaldo cross five minutes into the second half for his third goal in three games, and the Welshman had the ball in the back of the net again soon after, although the flag had already been raised for offside. Ronaldo appeared hungry to get in on the goalscoring action, and drew a save from Corona with an overhead kick before the hour mark, while an audacious rabona was comfortably held by the increasingly busy keeper. Pablo Barrera almost made an instant impact after coming on for Cruz Azul as his curling effort from just outside the area struck the left-hand post, but Isco’s strike after a series of mesmerising Ronaldo stepovers compounded the Mexicans’ misery. Substitute Sami Khedira headed against the left-hand upright - missing out on a first goal since he found the net in Germany’s 7-1 demolition of hosts Brazil at the World Cup earlier this year - and Ronaldo tested Corona with a free-kick in the closing stages, but it mattered little as Real comfortably booked their place in this weekend’s final.

• Dollah Salleh

seen whether captain Shukor will start in the first leg of the final against Thailand. But the 35-yearold Felda United defender

in Hanoi. Fadhli says Malaysia’s defenders are prepared to take on the home side’s marauding offensive

players. “Each defender has his own strengths and the coach will pick the players best suited in his gameplan against Thailand.”

The Thais last won the Southeast Asian tournament in 2002 despite appearing in three of the past four finals.

THE NIGERIAN

CMYK

The True Majority Of The Minorities

NIGERIAN politics is becoming more intriguing by the day. At last week’s national convention of the All Progressives Congress, APC, we thought, as usual, that money was going to make the essential difference. Evidently, establishing a pattern of behaviour based on that convention is extremely difficult. At first, we saw an inverse relationship between the financial outlay by the individual aspirants and their scores at the primaries. This hypothesis soon broke down when the final scores emerged – Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari (3,430 votes); Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso (974 votes); Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (954 votes); Governor Rochas Okorocha (624 votes); and Mr. Sam Nda Isaiah (10 votes). Our original hypothesis would have meant that Nda Isaiah who came first from the rear spent highest; while Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, who won the contest, spent least. Buhari might have spent the least but the information available to us does not support the fact that Nda Isaiah spent the highest. This leaves us with the impression that in-between the spectrum, there were money-bags who had a lot of Naira and Dollars to throw around. This also means that in the process, some of the delegates who voted for Buhari might have enjoyed the flight tickets provided by other aspirants; they might have stayed in hotel rooms provided by other aspirants; and those sumptuous meals they enjoyed might have been provided by other aspirants. There is hardly anyone, even the hard-hearted, who would not have been moved by the honest confession made by

Buhari, “I have no money to give to delegates. And even if I had the money, I would not have given. I would use such money to provide services for the down-trodden masses of this nation”. Buhari went down memory lane to push the fact that he remains in the category of the few leaders who did not steal while in public office. All he has always yearned for is an opportunity to serve the people. This is a healthy development for our polity. So soon, we are heading towards an era where money can no longer purchase people’s conscience and their votes. They would take your money and still vote their conscience. This is largely reminiscent of the 2012 gubernatorial election in Edo State where the PDP outspent the defunct ACN perhaps on a ratio of 4:1 and the results that came were totally in a reverse order. This is the making of a silent revolution. Sadly, the PDP has never faced the real issues. Their campaigns have never gone beyond the hollow level of attacking the motto and logo of their opponents. The other day, one of their spokesmen was on top of his elements when he struggled strenuously to destroy the APC motto of CHANGE. Hear him: “The APC has been busy making changes. They have changed from AC to ACN; from ANPP to CPC and now to an analgesic, APC”. Truly, the process has not been easy but PDP fails to realise that this is the first time that we are seeing a true majority of the minorities. Past efforts at mergers and consolidations always failed. Certainly, every beginning is difficult. All the same, 2014 goes down in history as the year they got it right! Starting from the

2015 elections, it will no longer be business as usual. If an attack on opposition symbols is all the PDP is bringing to the campaigns, the ensuing wind of change will blow

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

based on deceit. Questions will be asked and answers will be demanded. For instance, what really happened to the kerosene fiasco where the President Goodluck

was coming. Alas, their gallant gamble ended in the dust! More than two years on, not many drops of kerosene have arrived!

J o n a t h a n - l e d administration came up with the alluring idea of importing kerosene for delivery to the masses at the control price of N50 per litre? They co-opted the 36 States into the diabolical scheme and coerced each State Government to cough out N100 million into it. The exited Governors raced back home to inform their people that kerosene

Too soon, the same names associated with the kerosene “import”, emerged in the leadership of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN, those noise makers on radio and television! That’s money down the drains and we wonder when State Governments will start asking for the refund of their money. At least, if you refuse to shave a child, you should give

• Gen. Muhammadu Buhari them out of Aso Rock before they know what is happening. For a party, like the PDP, that has failed the nation, enough of pretensions! By now, they should be looking desperately for justifications for their failures. The party should know when silence is preferred. Sadly, the entire atmosphere around the Federal Government is

him back his razor! With this administration, it has been an endless reign of scandal and impunity. Which other nation in the world would pride itself on the transformation of its transportation sector for merely repainting a few old coaches, without adding even an inch to the railway lines inherited from the colonialists at independence? Our transformation here has been left in the hands of spray-painters! These are just a few of the areas where seriousminded people will demand for changes, fundamental changes – not changes in colours and logos of party symbols. In all this, Buhari is a ready answer. Foisting different names on him does not alter the equation, either. Call him an Islamic fundamentalist, if you wish. But fair-minded people should examine his antecedents and associates and decide for themselves; if he fits into the mould of an Islamic fundamentalist. After all, this was the same man who led the military push against the Maitasine in the 1980s. And last July, he narrowly survived a bomb attack carried out by the same extremists he is wrongly suspected of supporting. Shall we return to Victor Hugo (1802-1885)? Nothing beats an idea whose time has come. This is the time for change and those unprepared for change must be prepared to be changed!

There is hardly anyone, even the hard-hearted, who would not have been moved by the honest confession made by Buhari, “I have no money to give to delegates. And even if I had the money, I would not have given. I would use such money to provide services for the down-trodden masses of this nation”.

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